Tips for safe driving in the rainy season
Driving safely is one of the important principles that drivers need to follow, especially in slippery road conditions during the rainy season. At that time, drivers not only need to concentrate but also need to equip themselves with skills and knowledge to minimize any unexpected risks.
Speaking at the conference to review the work of ensuring traffic order and safety in the first 6 months of the year recently organized by the National Traffic Safety Committee, Colonel Pham Quang Huy - Deputy Director of the Traffic Police Department said that according to statistics in the past 6 months, there were 4,970 traffic accidents nationwide. Some of the causes of accidents were due to vehicles not ensuring technical safety, traffic accidents occurred mainly on provincial roads and national highways. This number is expected to increase until October to the end of the rainy season because in reality there have been many traffic accidents that were directly caused by wet roads and slippery roads due to storms. Therefore, drivers need to pay attention to the following points when participating in traffic.
Ensure visibility while driving
In addition to ensuring that the headlights work well, you should use yellow fog lights with a color temperature of about 3,000k - 4,300k in heavy rain and low light conditions to increase visibility. In addition, the glass on the car needs to be cleaned with specialized glass cleaner and the wipers should also be checked or replaced to optimize visibility.
Adjust speed and safe distance
When driving in the rainy season, do not forget to adjust the speed, consider the safe distance, comply with traffic rules and traffic lights on the road. Therefore, avoid driving too fast or braking suddenly, and always keep a safe distance between your car and other vehicles. This will give you enough time to react promptly to unexpected situations, ensuring the safety of yourself and other road users.
Focus and stay safe while driving
Avoiding all distractions and focusing on the road is one of the important things you need to remember. Therefore, you are not allowed to use electronic devices while driving; if necessary, find a safe place to stop and handle the situation thoroughly. Because your safety and the safety of those around you is more important than anything else.
Skills for handling on slippery roads
When driving on slippery roads, first, reduce speed and maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front. Limiting speed reduces the risk of skidding and increases your ability to react. In case the vehicle skids, you should gently release the accelerator and try to adjust the steering direction to avoid losing control. In addition, do not forget to steer smoothly, avoid accelerating, braking or changing direction suddenly.
Also, be careful of puddles on the road and avoid splashing water on other vehicles. On mountain passes, always follow the right-of-way rules and ensure good visibility to prevent accidents.
Use assistive technology
With the current era of advanced technology, you can take advantage of many devices to support safe driving during the rainy season. The most prominent ones include the ABS anti-lock braking system, ESP traction control system or EBD electronic balance system - important technologies that help increase safety when driving on slippery roads. Moreover, these devices also have additional features such as collision warning, parking assistance system or GPS navigation system that are also worth considering. However, remember that technology is just a support tool and cannot replace your ability to drive safely.
Fully equipped when driving in the rainy season
Before driving in the rainy season, make sure that your car has been thoroughly checked and prepared. All equipment in the car from the lighting system, brakes, windshield, rearview mirrors, wipers and especially tires should be carefully checked, replaced or repaired when damaged. For this reason, you should make sure that the tires have enough pressure, tension, a minimum tread depth of 3mm and are not too worn.
Specifically, according to Bridgestone tire experts, equipping standard tires will bring you some special benefits such as:
- Optimized traction on slippery roads:You should prioritize choosing specialized tires that meet the standards and structure to ensure optimal road grip. In particular, improved rubber compound tires can increase the connection of molecules to help grip slippery roads extremely effectively.
- Maximum controllability:To limit the “Hydroplaning” situation, tires used in the rain should have a wide surface to increase the rubber contact ratio with the road surface as well as control the braking process. At that time, thanks to the ability to control is maximized, the safety of the driver is also guaranteed.
- Wet braking ability is considered:In addition to checking or choosing the right braking system, it is also important to consider tires with wide tread and block structures. Tires that meet this standard will help ensure safer braking.