Vehicle Tips
Warmer weather is starting to make its presence felt and Spring has arrived! At last we can say good-bye to the dust and early morning frost. However, when it comes to driving, the change of season brings with it potentially dangerous driving conditions too.
Most of the country will start experiencing rain soon, and with it the winter months of accumulated oils and diesel spills on our tar roads will add to the hazards of driving in wet weather. Expect the roads to be slippery and adjust your driving accordingly. The three golden rules when driving in wet weather are, increased following distance, headlights on and reduced speed. Remember the speed limit is just that - a limit, not a target!
- Turn on your vehicle’s headlights.
- Avoid abrupt acceleration, braking and steering movement. Sudden stops and turns may cause skidding.
- Allow extra distance for braking. Your car needs more distance to stop on wet roads.
- Cloudy and rainy weather reduces visibility so take extra care when passing other vehicles.
- Increase your following distance. Allow at least 4 to 8 seconds between your car and the car in front of you.
- Do not drive through flooded areas unless you are sure that the water is below the bottom of the wheel rims. If you have any doubt don’t drive through the pool of water rather find an alternate route.
- If you must drive through high water, drive slowly in a low gear, holding the steering wheel steady.
- After driving in heavy rain for some time without applying the brakes or if you drive through standing water, lightly apply the brakes to dry them.
- If you have car trouble, turn on your hazard lights and pull completely off the road.
- Carry a cellular telephone to summon help.
