How to avoid the dangers of a wet road?

The manufacturer Bridgestone offers you advice for the upcoming long May holiday weekends.

On rainy days, the number of accidents is doubling; you need to adjust your driving accordingly. Indeed, aquaplaning is a real risk on the road, and rain showers alter driving conditions, particularly regarding visibility and traction.

Reacting to loss of traction

On a wet road, the tire grip coefficient drops from 0.8 to 0.5 or 0.6 at best. This results in longer braking distances, requiring you to reduce your speed and increase safety margins concerning other vehicles.

On very wet roads, it is better to move slightly away from the edge of the roadway toward the median to avoid puddles. However, remain attentive when overtaking a cyclist or pedestrian, and give as much space as possible.

In addition, it is important to note that if the asphalt has not been recently washed by repeated rains, grip will also be much lower because of dust and hydrocarbon projections.

Reducing visibility issues caused by rain

During heavy rain, do not hesitate to turn on headlights or fog lights to optimize visibility on the road. Be cautious about rear fog lights, which can cause considerable discomfort for other drivers.

Finally, avoid getting too close to another car or especially a truck when overtaking. Respectting safety distances will be your best ally, particularly to see beyond the curtain of water spray.

What driving method should you adopt in case of aquaplaning?

This very dangerous phenomenon simply deprives you of steering and braking by removing tire contact with the ground. A film of water then slips between the tires and the road. The vehicle no longer rolls; it surfs on the water and becomes literally uncontrollable.

If you feel this loss of control, avoid panicking, braking, accelerating, and especially making exaggerated steering movements. If, in such moments, the vehicle suddenly regains grip, it could go straight, influenced by the steering wheels’ orientation, which may not be in the direction you want to go. It is therefore essential to remain as gentle as possible and monitor the regain of traction by letting speed decrease as naturally as possible.