Tips For Driving In Rain
The blog this week is based around driving your Volvo or Toyota in the rain. And let’s be honest – we are having a pretty poor summer when it comes to rain this year! Read on to find out more:
Driving during or just after it’s rained can be challenging. From reduced visibility to worsened grip on the road, not to mention not being able to see potholes in the road which can cause considerable damage if hit at speed. Here are some tips for safe driving in heavy rain and storms, or even just navigating greasy roads after light rainfall. Please consider if the journey is needed in the first place or if it can be put off until the rain has subsided. If you really must drive in torrential rain then please adjust your driving by slowing down. Make sure that you have properly de-misted your windows before starting your journey.
1) Slow Down!
This may seem like an obvious one, but going too fast in the wet is asking for trouble. The big problem with rain on the road is the effect that it has on braking distances, and if it’s heavy rain, grip. The general rule of thumb is that braking distances almost double at higher speeds (e.g. when travelling on a motorway), meaning you’ll stop twice as far down the road than on a dry day. So slow down and keep your distance from the car in front of you.
2) Check Your Tyres
If the tyre tread depth is at or below 1.6mm, you’ll need to replace your tyres to stay legal and safe. (We’d advise that you change them before they get to this level.) You risk not being able to stop, getting into trouble for having illegal tyres (fine of £2500 per tyre) and your insurance being null and void if found to have defective tyres. Ensuring that your tyres are inflated to the correct pressures is a good habit to get into. We have written many blogs on tyre pressures and how to check the tyre depth using a 20p.
3) Aquaplaning
What to do if your car starts to aquaplane:
- Don’t brake suddenly – this can make any sliding worse.
- Reduce acceleration in a controlled manner.
- If your Volvo or Toyota is starting to spin, try to counteract it by turning the wheel in the other direction. This should be a last resort, as it may have no effect if your car is aquaplaning fully at high speed.
4) Check Your Lights And Use Them
Make sure that you use your lights correctly on your Volvo or Toyota as visibility is greatly reduced in rain – not just in front of you but to road users behind you. If you have used your rear fog lights in the torrential rain please remember to turn them off when the rain subsides and visibility improves. We see way too many people driving around with no lights on in the rain! 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.
