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The monsoons have officially started, and as most of us might have experienced in the past, driving a car in pouring rain isn't the easiest of things to do. But here are a few pointers to keep you ahead of the curve...
Light art
Running with the headlights or fog lights on in rainy conditions makes your car more visible to oncoming traffic, while the tail lights will help those behind you spot your car in the spray from your rear tyres. The more easily others can see you, the safer you'll be.
See through
Keep your windshield washer fluid topped up during rains and use soap water preferably, as it'll do a better job of clearing muck which gets on to the windshield from the spray thrown up by the tyres of the vehicle in front of you.
Easy Steer
With the lack of traction that wet roads offer, it is very important to keep your steering inputs smooth. Any sudden attempt to change direction will lead to massive lateral weight transfer, causing the tyres to lose grip, and your car can easily spin out
of control.
Brake Dance
Just like steering input, your brake input needs to be just as smooth on wet roads. Don't slam on the brakes, instead give short, but firm, presses to the brake pedal. Also, start braking much earlier than you would in dry conditions.
Spray fray
When driving in the rain, the biggest enemy of visibilty, more than the rain itself, is the spray from the vehicle ahead of you. To maintain decent visibilty in such conditions, maintain a longer distance from the vehicle ahead of you than you normally would. Take it easy and don't drive at the same speed you would in the dry. You'll also have to be more aware of what the vehicle in front of you is upto, as wet roads mean larger braking distances.
Puddle muddle
While splashing through puddles in one's car might seem the most fun thing to do, it is in fact quite dangerous. Hitting the water at high speeds can cause the wheels to slow down suddenly and unevenly, upsetting the car, which could even send it spinning. And then there's the off chance that the puddle you're about to go through hides a nasty pothole.
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HARMINDER SINGH
Useful tips for driving during rains.
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Hari Iyer
1. Have the wiper blade replaced if its not clearing the wind screen completely. Its possible that due to the excessive heat during the summer the rubber would have got melted if the car is parked in the open sun. 2. Check the dehumdifier for proper functioning. 3. Keep the AC on to prevent build up of frost inside. 4. Have all the head-lamps and tail lamps checked and replaced. 5. Have all the brakes tested and in case of insufficient braking, have the brake fluid replaced. It is possible that the brake fluid would have absorbed moisture and reduced braking performance. 6. Replace all worn out brake pads immediately. 7. Have the wheel bearings lubricated as per schedule. 8. Have the spare tyre inflated to correct tyre pressure. You might need it in emergency.
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a
Good one.
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NgpGuy
You should switch on AC (if it is OFF) to keep away fog from your windshield for good visibility during rain.
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Govind
Very nice article
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