Wet Weather Driving Tips

Driving in wet weather can be challenging, but with the proper preparation and knowledge, you can feel safer and overall have a better driving experience.

Here are some of our top tips for driving in wet weather:

Before you set off:

1) Do you need to drive?

Before you even think about setting off on your journey, you need to ask yourself whether your journey is absolutely essential. If you feel uncomfortable or nervous about driving in the rain, it may be better to leave your trip until the worst of the weather has passed.

2) Prepare for your journey

Use the radio or Google/ Apple maps to find out if there are any road closures, floods or accidents on your intended route and if so, plan an alternative route.

3) Check your tyres

Your tyre tread depth and tyre pressure are critical to helping with traction and grip when it comes to driving on wet roads. We recommend a minimum tread depth of 3mm when driving on summer or all-season tyres and 4mm if you're driving on winter tyres.
 

4) Check the condition of your wiper blades 

Both your front and rear wiper blades should be in good condition before you set off in wet weather. Being able to see clearly is essential in wet weather, so you need to make sure there are no significant signs of wear such as cracking or splitting and that they glide evenly over your windscreen. 
 

5) Check your lights

You need to make sure you’re visible to other drivers as visibility is seriously reduced in wet weather conditions. Turn on your lights and ensure they’re all in working order. 

When you’re driving:

1) Slow down 

Wet roads give you considerably less grip, and increase your braking distance. Driving slower will give you and your vehicle more reaction time, mitigating the likelihood of an accident.

2) Leave plenty of distance

Leave at least a 4 second gap between you and the car in front when driving in wet weather. Stopping distances are increased in wet weather and it’s more difficult to slow your car down. Leaving a bigger gap also prevents tyre spray from the vehicle in front reducing your visibility.

3) Watch out for hydroplaning

Also known as aquaplaning, is when a layer of water builds between the tyre and road surface, which can cause a loss of traction, and therefore control of the vehicle. This is one of the most common accidents people experience when driving in wet weather, and can be prevented simply by taking your foot off the accelerator, and steering where you want your car to go.

4) Keep your car ventilated

You may find while you're driving that your vehicle's windows start to fog up, if they do, turn on your air conditioner to dehumidify the windows, and leave your window ajar about half an inch to get some fresh air circulating.