Driving In Rainy Conditions

The blog this week is about safe driving in rainy conditions. The weather at the moment is very wet and looks to be lasting for some time. Our tips are to help you be more aware of the need to alter your driving to suit the conditions of the road. Everyone is trying to save money at the moment, interest rates are rising, fuel bills are rising, food costs are soaring etc so when it comes to owning a car, we need all the help we can get to keep costs down. Read on to find out more:

Whilst rain is common throughout the year in the UK, the period between October to January is the wettest. Heavy rain affects your visibility, so always take your driving seriously and slowly and adapt to the road conditions – less haste folks!.

Braking Distance

If you need to brake suddenly in wet conditions from a speed of 50mph and your tyre depth is 1.6mm it will take you 37.8m to stop. If you are on new tyres with 8mm tread you’ll stop in 25.9m. That’s a difference of 12 metres. When did you last check your tyre tread and depth?  We have written many blogs on how to do this – refer back if you are unsure or pop into your local independent garage for a tyre check.

Aquaplaning

You run the risk of aquaplaning when the road surface is covered in water. Don’t panic if this happens to you, ease gently off your accelerator, have a firm grip of the steering wheel and don’t make any sudden steering actions. Your Volvo or Toyota will eventually regain its grip on the road as the water clears.

Floods

First, if you can take an alternative route then do so – cars with flood damage can be incredibly expensive to repair. If you do see other cars similar in size to yours going safely through the flooded area then by all means if you are confident then follow suit. Taking in turns with oncoming traffic. Don’t try and drive through at the same time as you will both dispel the water on each other. Drive slowly but consistently in a low gear and do not stop. Once through the water pump your brakes a few times – when it is safe to do so to ensure they are dry. Do not do it when someone is directly behind you. Do not ever attempt to drive through fast flowing water as there is a real danger that your Volvo or Toyota may be swept away and you will have no control of it. We have said before in previous blogs to be mindful of pedestrians and bike users when driving down roads with puddles – it is not funny to splash them – its downright dangerous and immature. You face penalty points and a fine if you get caught doing this – and with the amount of phones, cameras and video opportunities at the hands of us all – you will get caught. Happy Safe Motoring Folks!

Here at ACC UK Ltd, Winners of The Motor Trader Independent Garage of The Year 2015, 2019 & 2020, The IGA Big Awards 2022, The Inspire Customer Service Excellence 2016 Award, The Eagle Radio Customer Focus 2017 Business Award, The Workshop Magazine Workshop Manager of the Year 2017 Award, The LiveWire Excellence In Vehicle Servicing 2019 Award and The Aftermarket Excellence Award for Best Website 2019, The Eagle Radio Biz Award – Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 & the SME News Magazine Most Trusted Car Servicing Provider 2020, we pride ourselves on offering an outstanding customer experience for a fraction of the cost of a dealership. Give us a call and let us quote you for your next service or repair on your Volvo or Toyota. We service all areas around Farnborough, Fleet, Aldershot, Farnham, Guildford, Frimley, Camberley, Hook, Sandhurst, Crowthorne, Yateley, Hampshire and Surrey. We offer free collection and drop off services. We also have a fleet of courtesy cars to allow you to get on with your schedule whilst your Volvo or Toyota is with us. Happy Motoring from all at ACC UK Ltd – Independent Volvo & Toyota servicing, repair and MOT specialists based in the heart of Farnborough, Hampshire.