The winter months can be busy at the workshop. The wet weather brings perfect traffic conditions for all sorts of accidents and we spend a lot of our time smoothing out dented panels and patching up paintwork.

A lot of these accidents can be avoided with a little understanding of wet weather conditions and how to handle them when you’re driving. We’ve put together the biggest risk factors for wet-weather driving and the best ways to reduce your risk.

Risk factor: More traffic

It seems obvious, but it’s worth being prepared for more traffic when it’s raining. Fewer people are willing to walk, cycle or catch public transport on their daily commute in the rain and it doesn’t take long for busy roads to turn into a congestion nightmare. Impatience and ‘road rage’ causes a lot of accidents in these conditions.

You can: be prepared and be patient. Allow for a longer driving time, heavier traffic (even on side streets) and longer waiting times at services that cater for motorists, like petrol stations and roadside cafes. Trying to rush can lead to taking more risks, which in wet weather can be disastrous. Take care and allow for longer response times, not just for yourself but for other cars as well – remember everyone is in the same situation!

Risk factor: Slippery roads

It’s not just water on the road that makes for slippery driving. All the oil and grime that builds up during the drier months rises to the surface when the road gets wet, especially at the start of winter.

You can: slow down and be aware of your braking. Anything that reduces traction on the road will make a difference to your stopping time. It’s important to leave more room between you and the car in front (ideally double what you would normally leave), and to avoid sudden or forceful braking. Either of these can cause you – or the car behind you – to skid and lose control on a slippery road, which has been the cause of many a prang on our freeways.

Risk factor: Aquaplaning/hydroplaning

Aquaplaning or hydroplaning is the name for the loss of control that happens when your tyres hit standing water and lose contact with the road surface. From a driver’s perspective, this has been described as a ‘lurch’, when vehicle controls suddenly go soft and the car ‘sleds’ in the direction of current momentum rather than where you’re trying to steer.

You can: check your tyres, reduce your speed and take care when turning. Avoiding standing water (e.g. puddles in ruts on the road) altogether would be the best prevention, but it isn’t always possible. So it’s best to be prepared and modulate your driving behaviour instead. Aquaplaning is the result of a build-up of water in front of the tyre at high speed, the pressure of which lifts the wheels so that they’re no longer touching the road. While the dynamics will change according the size, weight and type of vehicle you have, reducing your speed will help to keep you under the critical point at which the water pressure overcomes the weight of the car. Slowing down is especially important when handling corners and bends in wet weather. Properly inflated tyres with a safe amount of tyre tread will be a big help, too.

Risk factor: Reduced Visibility

Wet weather doesn’t do much for driving visibility: it’s darker than normal, the rain reduces how far and how clearly you can see, and your windows will often mist up.

You can: Make sure you’re always able to see properly, and that other drivers are able to see you. Turn your headlights on and make sure that your windscreen wipers are working correctly. Keep your mirrors and windows clean inside and out, and turn on your demister. Wet, reflective roads can make it hard to judge distances and lanes properly, especially at night, and looking at them through a fogged-up, smeary windscreen will make it even harder. Make sure you indicate well in advance when turning and brake slowly to give other cars plenty of time to see exactly what you’re doing.

As always, we recommend a well-maintained vehicle and careful, courteous driving as the best ways of reducing your risk of being in an accident. But always remember that if severe weather is making it too hard for you to drive safely, find a safe place to pull over and wait it out. Better to arrive at your destination late and safe!

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