Spring Could Spell Wet Driving For Many

Here in the UK we are no strangers to rain - it's something we get a lot of... whether we like it or not.

Unfortunately spring can occasionally bring forth a little more rain than we might like and this can bring problems to all types of motorists, young and old alike.

But as a young driver you may not have had as much experienced as a seasoned motorist... and an accident in wet weather could spell a claim on your car insurance or even something worse. Here are a few tips to help you out:

Driving on wet roads

You should slow down by at least 5 miles per hour
Make sure your windscreen wipers are switched on
Give the car in front of you more room than you normally would – this helps keep sprayback to a minimum
Be aware of puddles. Whilst this might sound odd a large puddle can cause a drag that tugs at your wheel – potentially causing your car to swerve. When approaching large puddles of water you should slow your vehicle down
Be aware of road flooding. Unfortunately flooding on roads is something many British drivers have to contend with at some point in their motoring career.

Here’s a few tips to help navigate through a flood:

Drive over the highest part of the road
Drive slowly to avoid water creeping into the engine and exhaust pipe
Keep the vehicle in first gear and keep revs high. This also helps to reduce water creeping into the exhaust
Never take your foot off the accelerator as this could also allow water to enter your car’s exhaust
Once clear of the flood simply tap the brakes lightly to dry them

Another serious danger on the road whilst driving in the wet is what’s known as “aquaplaning”. Aquaplaning is when the tyres surf the water pooled on the road – by doing so the car loses contact with the road. This seriously affects your ability to control the car and could result in an accident if you do not deal with it sensibly.

Here’s a few tips on how to control the car if you do aquaplane:

Steer in the direction of the skid.
Ease off the gas.
Follow these braking guidelines:
For antilock brakes: Apply the brakes firmly; don’t pump them.
For an automatic transmission: Lightly apply the brakes.
For a manual transmission: Push in the clutch and let your car slow down on its own.