Apart from that the major concern the season brings is the increase in risks on the road to drivers, vehi­cles, pedestrians and public vehicles. Here are a few tips to minimize those risks and drive safely in monsoon.

 

Slow down

 

Slowing down on wet roads will take longer than on the dry ones, which is why you have to be extra careful with the amount of throttle you are giving the car and also on the brakes you are applying. The rain makes the road highly sensi­tive to even the slightest input you give your vehicle, so be care­ful. You also need to maintain lon­ger distances between you and other vehicles.

 

Check your tires

 

Since your tires are the only thing between you, your car and the ground, they need to be in good shape. You need to check the qual­ity of your tire treads and change it if they are too faded. Better treads ultimately equals better grip on the road, which is important during the monsoon because the tire needs to channel the water out of its grooves to maintain the grip with the road. Faded treads don’t do a good job and end up going over the water layer instead of channeling it away, mean­ing you could slip anytime.

 

Check your wipers

 

If your wipers are not in good condition, you will not be able to see out of your windshield, as they will not be able to wipe the water away properly. Simple as that. And since we obviously need the best vision we can get, especially during a spell of heavy rain, it should be high up your checklist.

 

Use headlights in rainy conditions

 

Rain lowers visibility so turn on your headlights on low beam. This will help other drivers know where you are. Check your headlights and see if they are working as they should. Old and dim bulbs need to be replaced and dirty headlight covers cleaned so that there is no obstruc­tion for the light to pass, ensuring maximum visibility.

 

Pull over when the rain becomes too heavy

 

Even the best of wiper blades can be overloaded during a downpour, and will fail to wipe away all the rain even on the highest of speeds. This in turn will hinder your visibility even more as you now have to deal with a layer of water on your windscreen paired with wipers fast going back and forth. This is when you need to slow down or even pull over and wait it out until the rain is not over­whelming.

 

On the highway

 

While the standard protocols for distances between vehicles on the highway in the dry is okay, it needs to be increased when you are driving in the rain.

 

More distance between vehi­cles ultimately mean more time and space for you to slow down or get out of the way if the vehicle in front hits the brakes all of a sudden, or if it runs into an accident. Following closely during the rain can prove fatal; give yourself some space for your own good. Also don’t go around overtaking heavy vehicles like buses and trucks as they spray huge amounts of water, badly ham­pering your visibility.

 

Try not to splash others

 

While you are safe inside an air-conditioned cocoon that runs on four wheels others might not be so fortunate. Pedestrians and two-wheelers that are already stuck on a downpour will not be very pleased when splashed with water mixed with the dirt and mud. So when you see small potholes, be a hero and steer away.