10 tips for driving in the rain: How to avoid aquaplaning?

At the beginning of 2021, Spain was struck by a new storm; what was its name? It must be something you’ve heard before, Filomena.

As a result, we have discovered that it provides the ideal justification for writing an article about the suggestions for driving in the rain.

It is essential to consider several best practices if it is impossible to avoid driving in the rain due to circumstances beyond your control.

The best course of action during periods of intense rainfall or other types of storms is to seek alternative modes of transportation, such as public transportation.

When it is raining, driving becomes much more difficult because the rain not only puts a strain on the components of our vehicle that are responsible for its mechanical operation but also reduces the adhesion of the tires to the road surface, which can lead to aquaplaning.

It makes it significantly more challenging to see.

Whether it is a typhoon, torrential rain, storm, or summer rain, the rains affect drivers almost every day at some point in our country, and the impact is magnified when fall and winter arrive.

Driving with common sense and adhering to the indications of the road, in addition to the plethora of technical and driving tips provided in the following paragraphs, is the most critical thing that can be done while behind the wheel.

What happens when it rains is that a film of water is created on the asphalt, and this causes it to become more slippery.

In addition, when the rainfall is hefty, the dreaded phenomenon known as aquaplaning can occur (we’ll talk more about this later).

We have to add the dirt on the road to the water already there, creating a hazardous mixture that turns the asphalt into a skating rink as soon as the first drops of rainfall.

The rain alters (and in what way) the conditions of the road, and it makes visibility worse; consequently, beginning with the fundamental principle of maintaining control of the vehicle, you should drive with common sense and contribute (more than ever) to seeing and being seen.

The following is a list of ten driving tips that can help make driving in the rain a less stressful experience.

1. Slow down and maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you (the reaction speed will not be the same)

When we see signs of potentially dangerous weather, we first have to reduce speed to be appropriate for the road conditions (neither more nor less).

If the weather forecast calls for rain, it is imperative that you take your foot off the accelerator as the performance of your vehicle will be negatively impacted by the precipitation (which does not mean brake suddenly).

Because there is less adherence or grip to the asphalt, the car will need more meters to brake, so it is essential to double the safety distance: by saying “double,” we mean to increase that distance to twice the one maintained in normal weather conditions, given that there will be water on the road, we will need a great deal more meters to brake.

2. Be thin, drive smoothly, and do not brake abruptly; as discussed in the previous point, braking distance increases due to wet asphalt.

As discussed in the previous point, the braking distance increases due to wet asphalt.

Consequently, the likelihood of the wheels locking up despite ABS increases.

Because of the poor adhesion of the vehicle to the asphalt, we are required to apply light pressure to the brake pedal whenever we get close to a curve.

In addition, we must apply increasing pressure to the brakes while traveling in a straight line.

If you use the brakes while tracing the arc, the vehicle will not respond as it should.

Braking before a curve is a technique that is recommended to be used even in conditions of average weather to avoid understeering or oversteering; therefore, you can imagine how important it is to adhere to this technique when the road is wet.

Accordingly, a smooth steering of the vehicle is much safer and more if possible, when we circulate in the rain; that is why we advise that any change of direction or maneuver, be as smooth or fine as possible to avoid unexpected reactions of our car because of the lack of adhesion to the asphalt.

In addition, smooth steering of the vehicle is much safer and more, if possible, when we circulate in the snow.

Therefore, when we change lanes, we need to do so gradually while always signaling the change with the indicator lights before we do so (see and be seen).

3. Stay away from the road markings painted horizontally on the asphalt, and try not to drive over them.

When it rains, the paint used to mark the horizontal lines on the road does not have the same level of adherence as the asphalt itself. You probably were not aware of this fact, but it is a fact nonetheless.

This is advice that is given a hundred thousand times in driving schools, and it is advice that is very effective when driving in the rain: we must try not to step on the road markings on the asphalt (especially when turning), nor accelerate when our drive wheels are on the painted lines of the road.

This advice is very effective when driving in the rain. Watch out for intersections frequented by pedestrians!

It is best to steer clear of stepping on these markings, as they lessen the grip even further if possible.

4. Work your way around the outside of the corner, working your way in

This advice is applicable in dry and wet conditions: it is strongly recommended that one approach a corner from the perimeter rather than from the interior.

While traveling at a slower speed in the straight-ahead direction, gradually pick up the pace while taking the inside of the curve.

By adhering to this regulation, you will improve the vehicle’s grip on the asphalt, which can be of critical importance in wet conditions.

Always remember that you should start from the outside and gradually speed up once you get inside.

5. If you can do so, try to drive in the middle of the road whenever you can

This recommendation is not appropriate for all varieties of roadways; therefore, pay attention to the road in front of you, and if the surface is bumpy and uneven, it is recommended that you drive in the middle of the road.

Why? A street with minimal unevenness will have a water drain to the sides, which will help the central part to dry out. In addition, the center of the road will normally be higher than the rest of the road.

6. Stay in the tracks left by the vehicle in front of you (also known as “following in its wake”)

You have to make use of the vehicle in front of you, and we suggest that you do so in order to take the route that is least likely to become flooded by advising you to “take advantage of the dry area left by the wake of the vehicle in front of you to take the driest track.”

Do you know of any other competition that follows this piece of advice to the dot? Formula One, given that the drivers, when required to compete in wet conditions, follow the track of Formula One in front of them to reach their maximum speed while attempting to save as much adherence to the track as possible.

7. Whenever possible, ride with high gear and see how much faster you can go.

Keeping your speed up while riding in high gear will help prevent the wheels from skidding. Due to this lack of grip, you will be unable to maintain control of the vehicle.

Therefore, whenever you can, drive in third or fourth gear so that the wheels do not depend so much on the grip of the road.

The more spin the wheels have, the greater the likelihood that they will skid when the road is wet.

8. Stay away from puddles because they can throw off your balance

If at all possible, you should try to avoid going through water that is collected in pools and puddles.

Because of the depth of these, our vehicle moves more slowly, and the wheels’ ability to adhere to the asphalt is minimized to the greatest extent possible.

As a result, we will experience a loss of control over the vehicle, and we will deviate from our intended path.

If the road is flooded and forms puddles and small pools, you should attempt to drive on the side of the road while keeping in mind the fifth piece of advice, which is to drive in the center.

9. Make sure your lights are on so you can see and be seen, and keep your visibility high

When it rains, one factor that is most negatively impacted, in addition to grip, is visibility.

Therefore, ensure that other motorists can see you by turning on the lights, and if it is raining heavily, turn on the fog lights in the back of the vehicle.

On the other hand, we must ensure that the windshield wipers are working properly.

In this connection, to deal with the mist that has accumulated on the crystals, we recommend that you turn on the climate control so that the fog will clear.

And only in the direst circumstances should you use a cloth to clear the area and ensure that you have at least some visibility.

10. Make every effort to steer clear of aquaplaning; if this proves impossible, maintain a firm grip on the steering wheel and refrain from applying the brakes.

Aquaplaning can occur when the asphalt loses its ability to absorb water or when there is such a significant amount of rainfall that it creates a considerable accumulation of water on the road.

This happens because the tires cannot drain all the water that has become concentrated in them.

That is, there is so much water on the asphalt that the tires are unable to evacuate it when passing over it, causing the loss of traction and control of the vehicle, which causes the car to slide on a thin layer of water that prevents the adherence of the tires to the road; this is known as aquaplaning.

The loss of traction and control of the vehicle leads to the loss of traction and control.

When traveling at higher speeds, there is a greater possibility of aquaplaning.

It is recommended that we do not step on the brake when we find ourselves in this situation.

Instead, we should gradually take our foot off the accelerator while firmly gripping the steering wheel and keeping the steering steady.

When we notice that the steering begins to float, the last thing we should do (and that’s why we repeat it) step on the brake pedal.

Instead, it would be best to reduce your speed by lifting your foot off the accelerator and not vary the steering wheel until you notice that the wheels have returned to having a grip on the asphalt.

The aquaplaning is very easy to detect. When we see that the steering begins to float, the last thing that we should do (and that’s why we repeat it)

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