Driving skills in stormy weather

Things to note when driving in rainstorms

Trying to drive at high speed in a storm is absolutely not advisable; risks can arise from even the simplest situations.

Vietnam frequently experiences storms, but in the past, there were few highways, so even if drivers wanted to, they couldn't drive fast due to traffic jams. However, now there are more highways, and national roads have been upgraded and improved, so drivers need to improve their driving skills on highways during storms. Below are some skills that my friends and I learned during a day when we stopped at a rest stop for a cup of coffee while waiting for the rain and wind to subside before continuing our journey.

1. Always stay updated on the weather.

Television, newspapers, and even weather-related fan pages on Facebook regularly update weather conditions. For drivers planning long-distance trips, it's important to check the weather not only on the day of departure but also on the return day and surrounding days, because prolonged rain before departure can affect road conditions, potentially leading to flooding or landslides in mountainous areas.

Ideally, if you anticipate bad weather and the work isn't urgent, you should reschedule to a dry day. If that's not possible, prepare everything thoroughly using the information in section 2 below.

2. Prepare supplies for rainy weather.

The car should have warning triangles and a few cone-shaped markers ready to be placed around it, alerting other vehicles from a distance so they can avoid it. In addition, bring items like an umbrella, raincoat, flashlight, and boots, because you might have to go out into the rain to check the condition of your car, or even abandon it and walk to safety.

Food and water are also essential. Prolonged rain can cause traffic jams and landslides, making it impossible to continue driving and resulting in long waits. Drivers should prepare dry food and water, items that can provide sufficient energy in the simplest way.

3. Car repair tools

To be a good driver, everyone behind the wheel should know basic repair techniques such as changing a spare tire, checking and topping up coolant and engine oil, or more complex tasks like jump-starting a dead battery using another car's battery.A car should have a basic set of repair tools such as a jack, wrenches, screwdrivers, heavy-duty pliers, and a wrench for loosening wheel nuts...

4. Driving in the rain

- Reduce speed: If you absolutely must continue driving to keep up with your route in heavy rain and strong winds, remember that the most important thing is to reduce your speed to a safe level. Heavy rain reduces visibility, makes roads slippery, causes loss of traction, and creates puddles and bumps... so slow down to be prepared for unexpected situations.

- Turn on your lights: When it's raining heavily, the effectiveness of the windshield wipers is significantly reduced. At this time, seeing the vehicle ahead becomes as difficult as driving in fog. Turn on your low beam headlights, fog lights, and even your hazard lights, flashing both turn signals to attract the attention of vehicles behind you. Of course, don't forget to use your turn signals whenever you need to turn.

- Avoid flooded roads: Flooded roads pose many dangers. It's difficult for drivers to visually determine the depth of the water ahead, so if you're unsure, follow the vehicle in front. If there's no vehicle ahead, you can get out of your car and test the water level with anything you can find, such as a tree branch or even wade in.

- Avoid tailgating: Even if you've slowed down to a level where you feel you can control the situation, don't tailgate the car in front. Rain reduces braking distance and steering accuracy; if the car in front suddenly brakes or swerves to avoid an obstacle, you could be hit because you're tailgating too closely and can't avoid it.

- Avoid lane changing: Many drivers, when driving in the rain, tend to want to go faster to get home and use lane changing techniques like "roasting peanuts." This driving style can lead to dangerous loss of control for themselves and can startle other drivers, causing them to brake suddenly or swerve.

- Water film: When rainwater or any other liquid spills onto the road in large quantities, preventing proper drainage, a thin film forms, separating the wheels from the road surface. The thicker this film, the less grip the wheels have, increasing the risk of losing control.

To cope with driving in the rain on the highway, drivers should turn off all music and listen carefully. If the rain is so heavy that you can't hear the tires screeching on the road, it means the water film is very thick, and even a few sudden steering maneuvers can be dangerous. Pay close attention to ensure the safest driving.

At the same time, observe the spray of water from the front wheels; the more spray, the more water accumulates on the road. If the spray disappears and turns into streams, then the road is very wet, and you should reduce your speed immediately to avoid skidding.

These are experiences I and my friends have shared. Readers and drivers with other experiences are welcome to contribute so that everyone can drive more safely. Wishing you a safe journey!

According to VNE