With La Nina affecting large parts of Australia, many drivers are experiencing higher than usual levels of rain when they are on the road. No matter where you are in Australia, these five tips will help prepare you for safer driving in rainy conditions.
1. Stay alert
During wet conditions, especially heavy rain, visibility is decreased, meaning the obstacles you would normally look for, such as pedestrians, bicycles, motorbikes and animals may not be as easy to see. It is important that you stay alert when driving in the rain and scan for pedestrians and bicycles who may be in a hurry to escape the rain and animals who may have become lost or confused in the conditions. Don’t forget that this increased state of awareness can fatigue you more quickly than driving in optimum conditions, so make sure you take frequent breaks, especially when driving long distances.
2. Slow down and keep your distance
It will take longer to brake when the road is wet, so it is especially important to make sure you reduce your speed and increase your safety gap. In heavy rain, you should maintain at least a 5-second gap between the car in front and yourself.
3. Turn on your headlights
Not only will turning on your headlights help you see when visibility is reduced by rain, but it will help oncoming traffic to see you. If you are also driving through fog, some states in Australia recommend that you turn on your hazard lights to help both the oncoming traffic and the cars behind to see you.
4. Hydroplaning
In the first ten minutes of light rain, or when large amounts of water build up on the road, your tyres can lose grip, increasing your chance of hydroplaning. One way to help avoid this is to drive in the tracks of the car in front of you.
5. Flooded roads
Never cross a road that is flooded and always follow any road and warning signs. Just 15cm of water has the ability to knock a person to the ground and a meter of water can wash a car off the road. Flooded roads and large puddles can also cause severe damage to your car’s electronic systems.
Right to drive accident replacement vehicles
If the unforeseen happens, and you experience a not my fault accident, make sure you call the team at Not My Fault on 1800699034. Under Australian law, if you are involved in a car accident, and are not at fault, you are entitled to a replacement courtesy vehicle. So if you are involved in a not at fault accident, talk to the team at Australia’s number one car accident replacement service.