THE rainy days are coming because of typhoon Bising. So it’s time to update you with a few reminders on what you shouldn’t do when driving during a thunderstorm.
1. Tailgating
Tailgating shouldn’t be a common practice to begin with. Its associated risks and dangers increase tenfold when you do it in the rain, regardless of what speed you drive at.
Keeping distance to the car in front is necessary because visibility is low, meaning it’s harder than usual to react to anything happening around you. Your brakes might fail you as well, given how slippery the roads can be under a deluge, so the gap you leave might be what saves you from a collision.
2. Driving over the speed limit
Visibility and control worsen under wet conditions. Keep your distance to the vehicle in front of you, not the one behind. Even if you say you’re not breaking any rules, that doesn’t mean you’re actually being cautious, so keep it gentle on that throttle.
3. Switching on your hazard lights
Seriously, it’s a bad practice. Those blinking lights are meant for immobile vehicles stopped on the side of the road. A lot of Filipino drivers have been led to believe otherwise – just try driving through any of the northern or southern tollways during a storm, and you’ll see what I mean.
4. Running over puddles
Unless you’re driving on familiar terrain and you’re definitely sure it’s safe to run over that puddle, just stay away from it entirely. If you’re not sure what’s underneath, it’s best to steer clear. You wouldn’t want to accidentally speed past a pothole and damage your car, wouldn’t you?
5. Being overconfident
It’s natural to feel fear while driving during a storm, especially at night. If you find the road too intimidating and you think you aren’t capable enough to drive in low-visibility and wet conditions, then wait out the storm. If you worry your car is the problem because it isn’t 100 percent ready to take on the deluge – whether it’s got busted head – or taillights, faulty wipers, or a broken A/C – then it’s best to not get on the road at all before you’ve had these repairs and replacements done.
As the storm comes and rains start to pour, be sure to keep safe driving out there. Remember these warnings to avoid the risk of any unfortunate incidents while you’re in charge behind the wheel.(Top Gear PH)
