Driving in the rain

When you start driving in the rain, your shoes are wet and slip from the pedals more easily than in normal conditions. Wipe your sole to the floor mat before starting the car. The road surface is especially slippery when the rain starts, because the water merges with the contaminants like mud and oil on the road.

Visibility

Use windscreen (and rear screen) wipers. Direct the airflow to the windscreen and if necessary use the rear screen heater to remove frost from it.

When you keep a sufficient distance, the water thrown by other vehicles will not disturb visibility.

Aquaplaning

A vehicle aquaplaning (hydroplaning) occurs when a layer of water builds between the tires and the road surface, leading to a loss of traction.

• While aquaplaning the vehicle will not respond to control inputs e.g. steering or braking.

• The higher the speed, the wider and more worn the tires are, the more likely the vehicle is to start aquaplaning.

• Make sure that the tires have sufficient tread depth and that the tire pressures are within the recommendations. Experts say that tread depth of 4mm is the minimum for safe driving in rain.

• Avoid tire paths and adjust your speed so that there is no risk for aquaplaning.

However, if the vehicle starts aquaplaning, stamp down the clutch and steer to the direction of travel.

Driving in fog

Adjust your speed according to visibility. Use rear and front fog lights if your car has them. Cars usually have two front fog lights in the front skirt of the car. Rear fog light is situated down in the left rear of the car.

Fog lights may be used only in fog or mist or in heavy rain or snow. In this case it is allowed to use front fog lights instead of low-beam headlights, if day-time running lights are simultaneously on.

Rear fog lights can also be used when snow, dust or dirt rising from the road surface limits the visibility of the car for those following it.

Sun glare

You can minimize sun glare effectively by using sunglasses and the sun visor.