Whether it is heavy rainfall or just a light sprinkle — driving in rain can be quite challenging because tyres can lose traction in slippery conditions. Every year, thousands of accidents occur due to hydroplaning or other bad weather conditions.
Today, we are going to share a few tips with you to make driving in rain easy and simple.
Drive Carefully and Smoothly
Hitting the gas pedal abruptly or doing any other jerky movement can lead to loss of grip. So, every steering and movement of a brake should be soft and smooth so that it does not disturb the tyre’s traction. Pretend as if you have a bucket full of water on the back seat and any jerky movement would spill it, so you can better focus on driving the car smoothly.
Look Far Down
When you are driving in slippery conditions, it is crucial that you try to look beyond and further. Predict what your next move should be ahead of time so you don’t have to make any sudden turns, which as mentioned above, can be dangerous for you.
If you foresee traffic congestion or any other mishap, try hitting the brake a little earlier as the car takes more time to stop when the surface is slippery or wet.
Keep an Eye on the Stability Control System
Many people ignore the stability-control system warning, which notifies you when the tyres begin to lose grip and start slipping. One way to avoid this situation is by staying attentive and keeping an eye on the flashing light of the car stroke icon with lines behind it. As you notice the stability control system blinking, get easy on the accelerator and wait for the tyre to regain traction.
When the Car Skids Don’t Change your Plan
It’s a good idea to go where you were going anyway when the car starts to skid. If your vehicle starts to skid away in some other direction, focus back on where you were going and turn the steering gently. For things, you want to avoid, try to see through the peripheral vision.
Deal with the Skids
No matter how carefully you drive, a time will come when you will hit the slick spot. You will start to skid in another direction. But don’t worry. Skids, no matter how severe they are, can be managed and you can regain control of the car after some time.
The first step is to stay calm, don’t panic, and be gentle with whatever you do.
When the front wheel loses traction, the car will start to move in an arc. In such a situation, be gentle on the gas pedal. As you leave the acceleration pedal, the tyres will start to regain their traction back.
When the rear wheels lose traction, you will suffer a spin-out. In such a condition, try to feel in which direction the rear wheels are sliding and then turn the steering wheel in the same direction. For instance, if the wheels at the back are turning to the left, swing your steering to left. Try to stay away from brakes and be gentle on the accelerator. After some time, the rear-wheel will regain its lost traction. Then you can go where you were going earlier.
All-Wheel Drive Car
An all-wheel drivetrain system, unlike two-wheel-drive (front-wheel or rear-wheel), gives you better traction in slippery conditions as it provides more power to the tyre which needs it the most and less to the one which requires less power. This variable power transfer to different wheels helps the car maintain a better grip on the ground.
Modern SUVs like the New CRV come with the AWD standard in upper trims. You can also get them in cheaper variants by paying some additional amount. These cars are better equipped to deal with harsh weather conditions.
While an all-wheel-drive system comes in handy when you are driving in ice or snow, it can also put you into a false sense of security if you Overspeed or become overconfident. Just because you have an all-wheel-drive car, don’t try to drive a car at high-speed or perform jerky movements which can result in control loss.
