Impacting weather conditions.

MODIFIED GRIP

In the rain, your tyres will have less contact with the road than in dry weather. However, what will determine the perfect grip of your vehicle is partly the capacity of the wheels to be in perfect contact with the road.

The main symptom of this loss of grip is aquaplaning, which is the loss of control of the vehicle on a water-covered road. This occurs at high speeds when the amount of water on the road is too great to be removed by the tire grooves, resulting in a total loss of grip.

The right behaviour:

Reduce your speed: no more than 110 km/h on motorways; 100 km/h on dual carriageways and 80 km/h on roads and adapt the safety distances to allow for a greater braking distance. You should multiply this distance by 2! In case of heavy rain, be extra vigilant about your speed and do not hesitate to check the pressure of your tyres and reinflate them. Finally, in the event of wet road conditions, trajectories will take shape with the passage of other motorists, so favor these trajectories which will have more grip.

REDUCED VISIBILITY

Rain modifies the perception of distances and the one of other vehicles. Similarly, visibility conditions are made difficult by the lateral water splashes from overtaking vehicles. In addition, the fogging created by condensation can lead to an obstruction of your visibility.

The right behaviour:

Turn on the low beam and in case of heavy rain the front fog lights. On the other hand, reserve your rear fog lights for what they are designed for: fog. We also advise you to have windscreen wipers in perfect condition so that they can clear the water as quickly as possible to improve your visibility. Make sure you check them at least once a year before periods of precipitation. Finally, you can turn on the air conditioning to clear the fog from your car interior.

More tips for your comfort

To maximize your safety, you can also opt for these little tips:

• Fill up your tank: as weather conditions cause accidents and slowdowns on the road, you will probably need more fuel than expected.
• Stay tuned to your radio to find out the safest route for you.
• Rain, if too heavy, can cause damage to your vehicle. If you break down, keep your bonnet closed and call a specialist.

We hope this article has caught your attention, at Point S, road safety is a top priority and in this rainy season it is important to be as careful as possible. If you want to know more about road safety, read this article.

For more advice, please consult our other articles and make an appointment with our Point S experts.