It's rainy season in the Gauteng and other parts of the country and with that comes slick road surfaces, loss of grip, reduced visibility and a higher than usual accident rate.
In the interest of road safety the Automobile Association has issued a couple of important safety tips to keep you safe when the roads are wet and treacherous.
Always turn on your vehicle's headlights when driving in wet weather.
Check that you have sufficient tread on your tyres. This minimises the chances of aquaplaning.
Be on the lookout for spray caused by other vehicles sharing the road with you. Spray reduces visibility considerably.
Adjust your speed to ensure that you can safely stop within the visible area ahead.
Avoid abrupt acceleration, braking and steering movements. Sudden stops and turns may result in skidding.
Allow extra distance for braking. Your car needs more distance to stop on wet roads.
Cloudy and rainy weather reduces visibility so take extra care when passing other vehicles.
Increase your following distance. Allow at least 4 to 8 seconds between your car and the car in front of you.
Do not drive through flooded areas unless you are sure that the water is below the bottom of the wheel rims. If you have any doubt don't drive through standing water, rather find an alternate route.
If you have no option but to drive through an area with high water levels, drive slowly in a low gear, holding the steering wheel steady.
After driving in heavy rain for some time without applying the brakes or if you drive through standing water, lightly apply the brakes to dry them, especially if the vehicle is fitted with drum brakes.
If you have car trouble, turn on your hazard lights and pull completely off the road.
