Driving in wet & windy weather
Driving is strong wind and rain can be a scary experience and requires you to be focused and prepared for the road. You not only have to think about handling your own car, but also what potential hazards might cross your path and the surrounding traffic.
Wind & Rain together reduce visibility, make your car more difficult to handle and gives the added challenge of driving on a wet road. If you make sure you’re prepared and your vehicle is safe, you’ve got a better chance of navigating the roads safely. Here some advice on staying safe when driving in the wind and rain.
Check Weather Conditions: Before you even start your journey, check the weather forecast. If possible, delay your trip if severe weather is expected.
Maintain Your Vehicle:
- Ensure your tyres have good tread and are properly inflated.
- Check your windshield wipers and replace them if they’re worn.
- Make sure your lights and indicators are working.
Reduce Speed: Slow down and adjust your speed according to the road conditions. Wet roads reduce traction, making it harder to stop or control your vehicle.
Increase Stopping Distance: Maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you. Wet roads increase braking distance.
Use Headlights: Turn on your headlights, even during the daytime, to increase visibility to other drivers.
Avoid Cruise Control: Do not use cruise control in wet and windy conditions, as it may reduce your control over the vehicle.
Stay in the Middle Lane: Water tends to pool in the outer lanes, so stay in the middle lane if it’s safe to do so.
Grip the Steering Wheel Firmly: Wind can push your vehicle, so keep a firm grip on the steering wheel and be prepared for sudden gusts.
Keep Both Hands on the Wheel: Avoid distractions and keep your full attention on the road.
Avoid Large Puddles: If you see a deep puddle, try to drive around it. Puddles can hide potholes or other hazards.
Watch for Debris: High winds can blow debris onto the road, so be cautious of objects that may suddenly appear in your path.
Driving in the wind
Though driving in strong winds may not seem like a major risk to many drivers, a lack of awareness for everything around you can easily result in an accident in these kinds of conditions. Drivers need to be particularly aware when driving over bridges or through tunnels, as these can act as funnels for wind. We’ve put together our top tips that can help you to ensure you are kept safe when driving in strong winds.
1. Large Vehicles
Take notice of surrounding vehicles, especially HGV Lorries, vans and tractors. These large, heavy vehicles are more vulnerable to being affected by strong winds and therefore may have trouble staying in the correct lanes. We’d advise you to stay as far back from these vehicles as is possible.
2. Hold On
Strong winds have the ability to move your vehicle, and you are more prone to this occurring if you are driving a large vehicle or if you are towing. Though this is unavoidable, by keeping a firm grip with both hands on the steering wheel and maintaining 100% concentration, you will be able to keep your vehicle in the correct lane if it starts to move.
3. Gusts
If you have to drive through areas that are prone to strong winds or gusts, for example if you need to drive over a bridge or through a tunnel, ensure you take extra special care. Anticipate the fact that gusts may come along. You can do this by looking at what is happening to other vehicles. If they become affected, it’s likely that you will too in the same area.
Driving in the rain
Driving in heavy rain can hugely affect the visibility of the road, as well as causing the car to aquaplane. Aquaplaning can happen when a car is travelling in wet conditions. When a vehicle aquaplanes instead of the tyres gripping the road surface, they lose contact and travel on the surface water on the road. Aquaplaning causes drivers to lose control as steering and braking becomes practically impossible.
1. Tread Depth
Before you start your journey, take the time to check that your tyres are of the minimum legal tyre tread depth. Ideally, this should be checked regularly. The legal minimum is 1.6 mm, though tyres should be replaced when this reaches 3 mm, to ensure they have maximum grip on the roads. Tyre tread is designed to disperse water between the tyre and the road surface; if you haven’t got adequate tread depth then this can’t be done effectively and you are at much greater risk of aquaplaning.
2. Be Slow
You can help ensure you don’t experience hydroplaning when on the road by slowing down. The most dangerous time to drive is shortly after it has started to rain, as the road becomes slick due to the oils. Keep your distance from the vehicles in front of you, as stopping distances increase dramatically in wet, rainy conditions.
3. Regain Grip
As mentioned, aquaplaning can happen when driving in wet conditions. This happens as our tyres lose contact with the road surface and instead travel on an extremely thin layer of water. If your steering feels light all of a sudden, it could mean your car is aquaplaning. To regain control, slowly take your foot from the accelerator and allow your speed to decrease without braking, until you can feel you have full control.
It is important to remember that whether you are travelling in particularly heavy rain or strong wind conditions, the best driving decision could be to stay off the road and delay your journey until the weather has completely cleared.
Here at Eden Tyres & Servicing, we can help to ensure your car is safe to travel in all weather conditions. If you’d like to find out more information, get in touch with a member of our friendly team by visiting our contact page or by giving us a call on 0845 2997955.