When it is raining hard, the first thing that we need to do is to slow down. The road conditions and overall visibility have changed and it will take longer for us to spot and something and react properly. It is a good idea to stay closer to the middle of the road, without intruding the opposing traffic. Water usually pools at the edge of the road and hitting it at higher speed could cause instability. Also, some potholes could be hidden under the water, which could cause accidents or damage to our car if we drive at higher speed. When it is raining, it is a good idea for us to maintain a suitable distance. If the 3-second rule applies during dry condition, we should follow a 5-second rule when it is raining. It means that if the car in front of us stops, it takes five seconds for us to overtake it.
Sprays will reduce our overall visibility, so it is important to avoid getting to near with vehicles that have large tires, such as trucks. In slippery or wet conditions, it is important for us to be alert. If we want to use brakes, we should push the pedal slowly. So, it would be better if we slow down and keep a safe distance with other cars. Headlights should be turned on when it is rainy or foggy. Not only do, we could see the road more easily, our cars will also be more visible to others. In fact, some countries or states require cars to turn on their headlights during rainy conditions. Before the rainy season, we should check the wipers, to make sure that they are not brittle or old. Wipers should be replaced at least once a year.
Wiper blades in poor conditions won’t be able to clear enough water from our windshield. It means that our view will be badly distorted. In more serious cases, we may need to replace the entire wiper arms. After a period of use, the arms will bend and there’s won’t be sufficient downward pressure to clear water from the surface of the windscreen. The problem can’t be solved by only replacing the blades. Good wipers should be able to clear light rain with only a single sweep, leaving an almost dry surface with minimal smears of dirt. If possible, we shouldn’t drive off road during rainy days. It will be very difficult to judge whether the puddles are deep enough. If the hole is too deep, our car can become stuck quite easily.
There’s an additional driving etiquette that we need to consider during a rainy day. We should avoid splashing any pedestrian and it is something that we could easily forget. It is important to avoid using bald tires during wet days, because the traction will be reduced significantly. With too little resistance, tires could simply hydroplane over the thin layer of water on the road. Water under the tires needs to be removed immediately and it has nowhere to go if our tires are bald.