Story: Caroline Holmes, IAM
NO sooner had the government announced that we had a drought – officially – than the heavens opened the floodgates. April showers? More like April downpours.
Gardeners everywhere naturally welcomed the torrential showers. For others though, there was suddenly the inconvenience of wet shoes and frizzy hair, and a flood of road risks.
And for business car drivers everywhere, there was a sudden change in driving conditions, and the greater possibility of skidding on a wet surface – a problem not just for drivers, but cyclists and motorcyclists too.
Keep the windows clear – use your aircon
Rain makes the windows mist up in seconds, so adjust your heater controls before you set off – and turn the air conditioning on, as this will help dehumidify the car’s interior. After all, you don’t want to be squinting through condensation, driving rain, and fiddling with controls when you should be concentrating on the road.
As in all bad weather, take it easier on the accelerator. In the rain your stopping distance should be at least doubled. Giving yourself more space helps you to avoid spray, especially when following a large vehicle. And be especially cautious after prolonged dry spells – surface rain on dry roads is dangerously slippery with oil residues.
Keep your eyes on the road ahead and plan your driving so that you can brake, accelerate and steer smoothly – abrupt changes of direction tends to unsettle a car. If you see pools or running water on the road, don’t brake or accelerate into it. Ease off the accelerator as you cross it, grip the steering wheel firmly and steer straight ahead.
Avoid using cruise control on wet roads – it may create problems if you start to aquaplane (that’s when the tyre loses grip with the surface of the road due to the volume of water beneath the tread contact area).
In stormy conditions, it is more difficult to see other vehicles, road signs and the road itself. Make sure you can see and be seen. Put your lights on – whenever you use your wipers you probably also need your headlights. Before overtaking put your wipers on their fastest setting.
Wading through deep water
Even if the water on the road looks shallow, it may be much deeper than you think. Before driving across a flooded patch of road, ask yourself if there is another way. If you do need to carry on, drive on the highest section of the road – usually the crown of the road, but don’t set off if a vehicle is approaching you through the water. Remember, the water will hide other hazards such as potholes.
Once you are in the water, give room to other cars and pedestrians to avoid swamping them, and drive slowly but maintain momentum – taking your foot off the accelerator in deep water could allow water to travel up the exhaust pipe. Once you’re out of the water, dry the brakes by lightly applying them several times, after checking there is no traffic close behind you. However, if the water looks too deep, just don’t wade in – the chances are your engine might ingest water, and that’s not a happy mix. The result will be a busted engine and a large repair bill on your company car policy.
Additional company car advice is to make sure your car is properly maintained will make a difference too. Check your wipers regularly, that your tyres are properly inflated and have enough tread, and that all of your lights work. By law, you must keep the windscreen washer filled, but remember, to keep your windows clean, you must do the inside as well.
