Driving in the rain? Stay safe by taking these precautions
It seems the glorious rain that has eluded us for so long, may just have finally listened to our plea to grace us with its presence. The invitation we sent out seems ready to be answered some time this week.
Qatar’s Met department has released a statement indicating that rain is expected this week and will start with light, rain showers which may lead to heavier rains during the weekend.
Stay safe while driving in the rain; keep the following precautionary measures in mind and act on them:
1. Try not to drive on the roads of Qatar in heavy rains, unless absolutely necessary. If it is necessary to drive in the rain, you must give your undivided attention to the road to avoid the risk of skidding and accidents.
2. Ensure your windshield wipers are working properly; they shouldn’t streak and should completely clear the windscreen in one swipe. If they don’t, replace them immediately. You do not want to be driving in heavy rain if you can’t see the road properly.
3. In case of heavy winds, keep a firm grip on the steering wheel, especially in open places, so that even if you feel your car swaying, it is in your control.
4. Do not drive fast or your tyres may lose traction with the surface of the road and your steering wheel may feel light. This is called hydroplaning. To gain back traction, slowly release your foot from the accelerator without braking and let your speed go down until you regain steering wheel control again.
(PC: Ameer Abdul Razak)
5. Another reason to drive slower in the rain is so you don’t shower pedestrians or those on bicycles or motorbikes with water.
6. Watch out for vehicles that are big or travelling at fast speeds because they may cause a water spray that will reduce visibility.
7. When driving in the rain, try to keep a gap of up to six seconds from the car in front because the road may be slippery and you must maintain a safe stopping distance.
8. It’s very important that the tire tread depth and inflation are in perfect working condition because when driving in rain, a good grip of the tires on the road is a necessity.
9. All rear and front car lights must be working properly in case the sky turns dark and you need to use them
10. Avoid using the cruise control feature fitted in most new cars during the rain because even though they work well in dry weather, you may lose vehicle control in wet weather. If cruise control is on, you may lose traction and may not be able to reduce the car’s speed by releasing pressure on the accelerator slowly.
11. If your car breaks down in heavy rain, do not keep the bonnet open as you risk damage to the car’s electrical system.
What do you think? Are you prepared to drive in the rain? Have you taken the necessary precautions to ensure you, your loved ones and other drivers in Qatar are safe on the roads if you’re caught in the rain?
Cover Image: Osarieme Eweka
nijel: But how else would the other drivers know that there is water hazzard around ?
Please do not use hazard lights while driving in rain or when visibility is less. Either stop on the nearest parking or drive with headlights on.
I guess when you are from a country like the UK where is rains all the time this seems silly. But when you get 2 weeks of rain a year like here you understand the need to educate.
get ready for lovely weather, worse traffic and more accidents. Folks; it never rains that heavy in Qatar that we need hazard lights and slow down to crawl. just drive normally, if you can not drive at regulated pace, keep the fast lanes free.
Brit: You are right! If a person cannot manage his vehicle while driving in rain, he does not deserve to be on the roads behind a steering wheel.
Are people in Qatar such bad drivers that they have to be reminded of how to drive in wet conditions each time it rains ?
We will be careful