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RAIN is
considered as a major cause of road accidents. With
increased rainfall comes the challenge of driving
safely. When roadways are wet, tires can lose traction
or cause vehicles to hydroplane and the driver to lose
control. Additionally, visibility is greatly decreased
during wet weather.
According to race driver and Goodyear Philippines Inc.
endorser JP Tuason, many of these accidents can be
prevented, but some drivers do not realize that driving
in dry and wet weather are fundamentally different.
“Wet-weather driving demands gentle use of all the main
controls—steering, clutch, brake and accelerator—and a
larger allowance for errors and emergencies. While most
people know to slow down in the rain, there are
definitely other tips that will help keep you, and those
who share the road with you, from becoming a statistic,”
Tuason said, who also heads Tuason Racing School (TRS).
Together
with Goodyear and other partners, TRS conducts road
safety and defensive driving for both private and public
motorists. Here are a few driving tips that can help you
avoid wet-weather road accidents:
Routinely check your tires.
Always check your tires before you hit the road. Make
sure you keep your tires properly inflated. The correct
air pressure—when cold—for your tires is specified by
the vehicle manufacturer and can be found on the vehicle
door edge, doorpost and glove-box door or fuel door. It
is also listed in the owner’s manual. The number listed
on the side of the tire is not the recommended air
pressure for your tire—it is the maximum air pressure
for the tire. You should check your tire’s air pressure
at least once a month. You should also regularly check
the tire’s tread depth—proper tread depth will help
prevent skids and aquaplaning.
Slow
down.
As rain falls, it mixes with grime and oil on the road,
creating slippery conditions perfect for skids. The best
way to avoid skidding is to slow down. Driving at a
slower pace allows more of the tire’s tread to make
contact with the road, which leads to better traction.
Know how
to recover from a skid.
Skids can happen even to the most cautious drivers. If
your car does skid, remember not to slam on the brakes.
Do not pump the brakes if you have an antilock braking
system (ABS). Instead, apply firm, steady pressure to
the brakes and steer the car in the direction of the
skid.
Keep
your distance from the car ahead.
It takes
about three times longer to brake on wet roads than it
does on dry roads. As more distance is required to
brake, it is important not to tailgate. The
internationally accepted distance is three seconds, and
adding more time in adverse conditions is recommended.
In the rain, you should increase your following distance
to compensate for the increased stopping distance.
Turn
your headlights on. Avoid using your brakes.
Whenever possible, slow down by taking your foot off the
accelerator. Turn your headlights on even in light-rain
conditions. Not only do they help you see the road,
they’ll also help other drivers see you.
Prepare
for your journey.
When you begin a journey in rain, your shoes will be wet
and liable to slip off the pedals. Scuff the soles on
the rubber matting or carpeting of the car before you
start the engine. All motorists should regularly check
that their headlights, rear lights, brake lights and
turn indicators are working properly.
Learn
how to avoid and deal with aquaplaning.
Aquaplaning happens when the water in front of your
tires builds up faster than your car’s weight can push
it out of the way. The water pressure causes your car to
rise up and slide on a thin layer of water between your
tires and the road. At this point, your car can be
completely out of contact with the road, and you are in
danger of skidding or drifting out of your lane, or even
off the road.
To avoid
aquaplaning, keep your tires properly inflated, maintain
good tread on your tires and replace them when
necessary, slow down when roads are wet, and stay away
from puddles. If you find yourself aquaplaning, do not
brake or turn suddenly. This could throw your car into a
skid. Ease your foot off the accelerator until the car
slows and you can feel the road again. If you need to
brake, do so gently with light pumping actions. If your
car has ABS, then brake normally—the car’s computer will
mimic a pumping action, when necessary.
If the
rain becomes too heavy, stop!
Heavy rain can overload the wiper blades, allowing an
almost continuous sheet of water to flow over the
screen. When visibility is so limited that the edges of
the road or other vehicles cannot be seen at a safe
distance, it is time to pull over and wait for the rain
to ease up. It is best to stop at rest areas or other
protected areas. If the roadside is your only option,
pull off as far as possible and wait until the storm
passes. Keep your headlights on and turn on your
hazard-warning lights to alert other drivers.
For more tire tips, visit your local Goodyear Servitek
and TyrePro outlets, with branches nationwide. |
