9 Tips for Driving Safely in the Rainy Season

The rainy season is here. For those of you who drive vehicles every day, this season requires you to be extra cautious. You will not experience slippery roads, but also dangerous road potholes.

Entering the rainy season is commonly related to traffic congestion. In addition, the driving view or visibility is becoming less and drastically reduced, bringing a challenge that needs to be anticipated.

Don't neglect safe driving in the rainy season for your own and others’ safety. For this reason, a driver really needs to concentrate and master the skill of driving in the rainy season. There are some tips for driving in the rainy season that you can see below.

1. Check the air pressure in tires

The first and quite important tip for driving during the rainy season is to check the car tires condition before use. This is because tires come into direct contact with the road.

Bald car tires have weak and dangerous grip. We recommend that you immediately replace thin car tires to prevent aquaplaning or the condition where the tires do not tread when driving through wet roads.

Also note that the air pressure on the tires must be at normal setting. This prevents the car from becoming unstable and from skidding while on the road. Generally, the recommended air pressure setting is listed on the driver's door pillar. Tire pressures that are too high can reduce traction, while tire pressures that are too low will cause flat tires, causing other problems. For that, tire pressure needs to be in normal conditions.

2. Check car lights

Entering the rainy season, another crucial component to check is the car lights. When it rains, turning on the lights is needed to detect objects in front of the car as well as keep the driver's visibility clear.

There are several types of car lights that you need to check, such as headlights (head lamp) for near and far distances, turning lights, and emergency lights. All three must function properly because they have their respective functions especially when the car is driven in the rainy season.

READ ALSO: Tips to Prevent Car Engine from Overheating

3. Be alert of the first 10 minutes of rain 

The most crucial time to be on a wet road is the first 10 minutes of rain. When the rain has just started to mix with dirt, oil, and particles on the road, it causes the road to be more slippery. However, after more than ten minutes, the rainwater will wash away the dirt making the roads safer to drive on.

Unfortunately, many drivers actually drive their vehicles faster to get to their destination quickly. In fact, when it rains you should increase your vigilance. Even if necessary, you can move aside for around ten minutes until the rain completely washes the entire road.

4. Keep a safe distance from other vehicles

If you have to drive when it's raining, be sure to always maintain a safe distance from other vehicles around you. The safe distance between vehicles will depend on the driving speeds.

If you are on the freeway driving at around 50-60 km per hour speed, then you need to keep a safe distance of 25 to 40 meters from the vehicles in front and behind you. The National Safety Council in the United States also recommends keeping a distance of 6 seconds. You can use buildings or trees as markers.

5. Avoid driving on the side of the road

Another tip for driving in the rainy season is to avoid driving on the side of the road. During the rainy season, the roads are usually easily damaged and porous. The side of the road is lower than the middle part of the road. If you drive too far on the side of the road during the rain, you risk your vehicle skidding or getting stuck off the road. What's more, during heavy rain, the road markings are not so clearly visible that it becomes dangerous for the driver.

6. Avoid using the hazard lights

As previously mentioned, each type of car light has its own function. The use of hazard lights is not recommended when driving in heavy rain, because this type of lamp is used for emergencies or when the car is stationary.

Using hazard lights in heavy rain can confuse other motorists, especially the car behind you. In addition, the hazard lights that turn on can block the turn signal lights. When you plan to turn or change lanes, other drivers may not be aware of it and it can cause an accident.

READ ALSO: The Most Effective Ways on How to Prevent Highway Hypnosis to Avoid Accident 

7. Reset your car's AC temperature

Adjusting the air conditioning temperature is also one of the tips for driving in the rainy season. Because, when it rains heavily, the temperature will drop and cause condensation to appear on the windshield and interfere with your visibility while driving.

Set the temperature of the car's air conditioner not too low or high to prevent dew from forming on the windshield and mirrors of the car. If the car has a defogger, you can activate this feature. Usually the defogger is on the rear glass of the car which functions to remove dew automatically and bring the visibility back to normal.

8. Check the car wipers

Apart from those mentioned earlier, another tip for driving in the rainy season is to check the condition of the car wipers. Wipers have an important role to shed the water off from the windshield and the rear of the car to maintain a clear driving visibility.

You need to check the wiper’s rubber. If it is brittle and unable to wipe off the glass perfectly, then you should replace it with new wipers. You also must check the wiper water because if the water has run out then the wiper can’t function optimally.

9. Speed control to reduce aquaplaning

Another thing that is no less important is to reduce speed so you can have a better control of the car especially when you drive through potholes and muddy roads. Besides being able to reduce the effect of splashing on other road users, the risk of aquaplaning will also be reduced.

Driving in the rain requires extra caution so that you and other road users can safely reach your destination. If the car has a problem while traveling, don't panic. Try to pull over to the side of the road, then turn on the hazard lights to let other drivers know that you're in an emergency.

That is the information regarding tips for driving a car safely in the rainy season from MPM Rent. You can find driving tips or information about car rental in Jakarta and other big cities in Indonesia.

MPM Rent is a car rental company that offers short and long term car rental services. There are more than 13,000 vehicles according to needs, such as luxury cars, passenger cars, logistics vehicles, and heavy duty vehicles for rent for personal needs or office operations. For more info, visit MPM Rent.