Driving In The Rain: How to drive safely on wet roads, do's and don'ts...

Now these days the weather has changed all over the world. It rains everyday in the summer and extremely warm in the winter. Since it has been raining here in Thailand almost everyday lately  we find ourselves faced with having to drive on wet slippery roads more frequently. While most of us use caution while driving on wet roads,  Here are some of the best safety tips available to reduce those risks.



Slow down: It is better to drive slow and safe than fast and reckless. As you decrease your speed, your tires tread that contacts the road service increases. If at all possible, avoid trying to pass other vehicles as this could cause a reaction or over reaction.


Maintain a safe distance: You should not stay too close to the vehicle in front of you when the roads are wet. It takes about three times longer to brake on wet roads than it does on dry roads. Keep more than two vehicle lengths between you and the vehicle in front of you.


Know how to recover from a skid: If your vehicle does skid, remember not to slam on the brakes. If you have an anti-lock braking system (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Instead, apply firm, steady pressure to the brakes and steer the vehicle in the direction of the skid. 

Properly maintain your tires: Improperly inflated tires not only adversely affect your gas mileage, they also affect your vehicle's handling. Tires that are properly inflated and well maintained can cut through water and keep traction better than worn or bald tires. Check your tires condition and air pressure on a regular basis.


Be careful at intersections: Accidents occur most frequently at intersections. When approaching an intersection, exercise caution during wet road conditions. Although you may be approaching slowly, other drivers around you may not be so cautious. Intersections are often made more dangerous by frequent oil spills making the stopping surface more 


Wipers: Keep your windshield wipers in good working order. If the motor doesn't work, then you need to get it fixed. Also, be sure that you check the condition of the wiper blades themselves. If they are old and brittle, chipped, or damaged in any way, then they should be replaced at the first available opportunity. If you don't change them, you will have a streaky window which is difficult to see out of.

Pedestrians:  Pedestrians who are fiddling with umbrellas, slickers and galoshes can be distracted and not as observant as usual when crossing the street in the rain.  Allow for this extra element of danger when approaching pedestrians in a rainy intersection or along the roadway.


Brakes: When the need to brake, avoid stomping on the brake pedal. If you can see a stop coming, slow down as much as you can by simply taking your foot off the accelerator and allowing the car to coast to a stop. This reduces the chance of any slipping, sliding, or hydroplaning. If you have an antilock braking system (ABS) on your vehicle, avoid pumping your brakes. That is what your ABS is for, and if you try doing it yourself then you are reducing its effectiveness.


Try to avoid aquaplaning: While driving in wet conditions, your tires must cut through the water to maintain contact with the road. If you are traveling too fast and there is too much water on the road, your vehicle may start to ride on top of the water which is a condition called aquaplaning or hydroplaning. You can avoid aquaplaning by keeping your tires properly inflated, maintaining deep tire treads, slowing down and driving on the tracks of the vehicle in front of you.


Night Driving
Driving in the rain at night requires close concentration, because you might not be able to tell difference between a wet road and a flooded road.  Hitting a flooded road at full speed can produce the same effect as hitting a brick wall -- you can lose control and come to a violent stop, risking injury to yourself and your passengers.

In a perfect world, we would simply sit out bad weather and drive in optimal conditions.  But tight schedules and demanding jobs keep us on the go no matter what the weatherman says.  Just remember that when rain hits take it slow and give yourself plenty of extra time to arrive safely.


As drivers, we all need to change our mindset and techniques when driving in wet road conditions. Wet roads lead to slipping, skidding and aquaplaning, all of which can cause vehicle damage, personal injury or even death. By taking a few precautions and by using wet road driving techniques, we can hopefully avoid ending up soaking wet on the shoulder of a highway waiting for a tow truck, or just like many other safety tips, this safety tip could save our lives.
Drive safe, think positive and be prosperous.