Key Reminders for Driving in Foggy or Rainy Conditions

Driving is exciting and fun but only when you’re not facing a fatal risk on the road. Driving requires focus, and skills, as well as some favourable conditions. Good visibility and favourable weather are also required for an enjoyable driving experience.

With adverse weather or reduced visibility, the risks associated with driving also increase. Unfavorable weather conditions like rain or snow have a big impact on the road too. Wet roads, snow, and fog affect driving and can cause a lot of harm.

Driving schools teach their students different driving techniques and strategies precisely so that they can handle driving in adverse conditions too. Courses like defensive driving and Safer drivers course also aim to develop a safety-first mindset in drivers and improve their road awareness.

Let us look at the risks involved with driving in adverse weather conditions like severe fog or rain and some tips to remain safe:

Dangers of Driving in Foggy or Rainy Conditions

In countries like Australia with diverse climates, fog or rain may come over unexpectedly, taking drivers off-guard. These conditions pose many risks for driving. Fog reduces visibility on the road considerably. Hence, it becomes difficult for drivers to see other vehicles, pedestrians, or road signs. It also makes it difficult for drivers to judge distances or guess the speed of incoming vehicles correctly. This can prevent them from slowing or stopping in time to avoid hazards and increases the risk of crashes.

Similarly, rains cause a lot of visibility issues and the wet roads also pose many problems. When the roads are wet, the vehicle’s tires may lose contact with the road and cause hydroplaning, which reduces the driver’s control over the vehicle. Wet roads also cause the vehicles to take a longer time to stop and drivers need to increase their following distance to allow for such time. Rains also bring puddles and cause potholes which can be risky to drive around. With so many challenges, driving in fog or rains is truly a difficult job even for the most skilful and experienced drivers.

TIPS TO DRIVE SAFELY IN FOG OR RAIN

So, if you’re learning driving from a driving school, you must pay attention to the driving lessons that teach you to handle adverse weather conditions like rain and fog. Here are some tips that can help you deal with rains and foggy weather:

SLOW DOWN:

While fog reduces your visibility making it difficult to spot other vehicles on the road, wet roads can cause hydroplaning and are difficult to drive on. Drivers need more time to stop the vehicle and avoid crashing into others.Hence, it’s better to slow down when driving in rainy or foggy weather.

INCREASE FOLLOWING DISTANCE:

Wet roads make it difficult for drivers to control their vehicles. Wet roads also make it tough for the tires to stop, taking a long time for it compared to driving on dry roads. Maintaining a larger following distance can give drivers more time to stop their cars without colliding with other vehicles.

Use Low Beams:

Fog reduces visibility and high-beam headlights can reflect off the fog, reducing the visibility even more. Hence, it is better to use low-beam headlights so that you can see past the fog better.

Avoid Overtaking:

Fog and rains also make it tough to judge distance and speed of other vehicles. If you’re trying to overtake a vehicle without the right idea of their speed or distance, it can lead to fatal collisions. It is better to stay in your lane and avoid overtaking other vehicles in such weather conditions.

FOCUS ON THE ROAD:

Fog and rains already pose many challenges for drivers. If, on top of it, the drivers remain distracted, the chances of accidents increase greatly. Hence, it’s better to stay focused on the road and avoid distractions of any kind.

WATCH FOR HYDROPLANING:

Hydroplaning is when the driver loses control of the vehicle and it skids along the road. Usually wet roads prevent tires from getting enough traction which can lead to loss of control. When driving on wet roads, drivers should be cautious and avoid making sudden moves. They should drive slowly and steer gently to avoid any risky accidents.

DEFOG YOUR WINDOWS:

Most vehicles have inbuilt defogging systems that help drivers to keep the windows clean. Clean windows increase visibility and reduce the chances of collision on the road.

Why Take a Safer Drivers Course?

Safer Drivers Course teaches the drivers various techniques to stay safe and drive properly in different situations. It helps develop a safety-first mindset and promotes a safe and responsible approach to driving. It encourages the students to follow the road rules and etiquettes and stay away from illegal actions while driving. It also highlights the importance of staying alert and avoiding distractions while driving. Thus learning safe driving techniques through these courses from reputed driving school can promote road safety and prepare the drivers for driving in all types of circumstances.

Conclusion

Driving safely on wet or foggy roads is a challenge for all drivers, whether new or experienced. Learning safe driving techniques from a good driving school like Onroad can help new drivers to develop their driving skills and learn what to do when faced with natural challenges like rain or fog. By following the above tips, drivers can stay safe and drive responsible in any weather condition.

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