Advice for Driving in the Rain

It pays to take special care when driving in the rain to ensure you complete your journey without serious injury!

There are many reasons to take extra care, including:

• Stopping distances on wet road surfaces are almost double those required for stopping on dry roads
• Water on your windscreen makes other vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians, road signs and the road more difficult to see.
• Puddles can form on the road surface, and if you’re not careful, you could be at risk of aquaplaning.

Before driving in heavy rain, you should check the following:

• Windscreen Wipers – Old and/or brittle wiper blades won’t clear your windscreen effectively, which will seriously affect your visibility.
• Lights – Make sure all the lights on your car, including headlights and reverse lights, are in good working order.
• Tyres – Bald tyres severely reduce your grip on the road; bad news in decent driving conditions, even worse in wet conditions. Make sure your tyres are at the recommended tyre tread depth.
• Road Closures – Listen to local radio or check online for any road closures due to flooding.

1. Set your heater controls – Before you set off on your journey, ensure you have set your heater controls, as rain makes the windshield mist up in seconds.
2. Don’t follow other vehicles, particularly large lorries or buses, too closely – Keep a greater stopping distance behind the vehicle in front, as the spray created by other vehicles’ tyres makes it more difficult for you to see. The same applies when overtaking – if you must do so, complete your manoeuvre quickly and safely.
3. Be especially careful when braking – Using the brake pedal can cause aquaplaning. If it is safe and possible to do so, take your foot off the accelerator to slow down.
4. Avoid using cruise control – This may create problems if you start to aquaplane.
5. Turn on your headlights – Particularly if the rain is coupled with gloomy, foggy or overcast conditions. Not only does it help you to see the road, but it also makes you more visible to other drivers.
6. Don’t drive through puddles if you’re unsure of their depth – You could become stuck or damage your car.
7. Never drive through moving water if you can’t see the ground beneath – This could result in you being swept away.
8. Be careful during strong winds – Strong winds can also cause unsteadiness on the road. Make sure you grip your steering wheel firmly and be especially aware of other vulnerable road users, such as motorcyclists and flat-sided vehicles.
9. If you begin a journey in the rain, try to wipe your feet on your car mat before starting to drive. The soles of your shoes could slip off the pedals if they’re wet.
10. Take extra care at junctions – Fuel leakage most often occurs here, and when mixed with rainwater, it is a serious skid danger.
11. If you’re driving through a water hazard, check your brakes afterwards – If they’re wet through, they won’t work correctly. Once you’ve driven out of the water, drive very slowly and touch your brakes lightly. This will both test them and help to generate the heat necessary to dry them out. Make sure your brakes are pulling evenly before driving at normal speed again.

In cases of severe flooding, you should reconsider making the journey and avoid driving at all. If it is absolutely unavoidable and you have to drive through deep water, plan your journey and the IAMRoadsmart charity recommends drivers take the following precautions:

• Drive on the highest section of the road and don’t set off if a vehicle is approaching you.
• Leave time and space to avoid swamping other cars, cyclists and pedestrians.
• If you can’t see where you’re going to come out of the water, such as when approaching flooding on a bend, think twice about starting to drive into it.
• In deep water, never take your foot off the accelerator, as this could allow water to travel up the exhaust pipe.
• Once you’re out of the water, dry the brakes before you need them. The best way is to lightly apply the brake as you drive along for a few seconds, after checking that nothing is following you too closely.

Driving in heavy rain significantly affects stopping distances due to reduced tire traction and visibility. Wet road surfaces increase the likelihood of hydroplaning, where a layer of water builds between the tires and the road, leading to loss of control. You should double the usual two-second rule to four seconds or more, depending on the intensity of the rain and the road conditions.

• Don’t brake
• Don’t turn your steering wheel
• Reduce your speed by easing your foot off the accelerator

Driving in wet conditions can be dangerous if you don’t handle it with extra care. However, heavy rainfall isn’t the only challenge drivers face; snow and ice also make driving more difficult.

Breakdowns can be common on UK roads during heavy rain. If your engine seizes after driving through a flooded area, do not restart it, as engine damage may occur. Instead, move your vehicle off the road onto a hard shoulder if possible and keep the bonnet closed to protect it from the rain. Turn on your hazard warning lights, sidelights and place a warning triangle at least 45 metres behind your broken-down vehicle to alert other drivers (except if you’re on a motorway). Leave your vehicle, wear high-visibility clothing (especially when visibility is poor), wait in a safe place away from traffic and call 999 or breakdown assistance.

For winter driving advice and tips, read our ‘Winter Driving Guide‘. Otherwise, read our blog about ‘Electronic stability control (ESC) questions in the Theory Test’, which contains sensible guidance on how to manage skids.