Prepare your car for the monsoon

It is that time of the year when the heavens open up and everything turns green. With the arrival of the monsoons though also comes the advent of clear and present danger on the road that could in fact be staring you in your face and you won’t even notice! Here are a few simple things to take a look at even before you start driving to keep motoring safe and enjoy the rains to the fullest.

It is worthwhile checking the essentials on a car to make it rain-worthy. 

1. Tyres: First and foremost, tyres must be in good shape with enough tread depth. The tread pattern on your tyres is the single most important thing in the rains that can keep you safely on the roads. Water on the tarmac gets expelled from under the tyres through the treads and prevents aquaplaning. Make sure your treads are deep enough by simply using a coin and checking if the depth is within safe limits – usually 3-5mm.

2. Washer Wiper: Wipers have to be of good quality. Between two monsoons, wiper blades become hard and get coated with traffic film from oily fumes and dust from road. The windscreen itself may be oily due to traffic film. The later two can be cleaned with soap solution. Lastly, check whether the wash wipe system is in working order. Do not forget to put two teaspoonful of liquid detergent in washer fluid. Once you are convinced that the wash wipe system is okay, do have a working trial. 

3. Lights: The lights which seem okay in scanner may be inadequate in monsoon because wet roads absorb light and visibility suffers to a great extent. Lighting must be checked for brightness and correct pattern. Always use good quality bulbs. If inherently the lights are bad, do have auxiliary lights fitted – yellow lights give a better contrast. Fog lights cover only the kerbs and not distant objects. 

4. Mud Flaps: When you’re driving, what you leave behind your car is as essential as what you’re driving into. No one likes driving behind a car that is spraying a lot of muddy water and, more importantly, that can be quite dangerous as well. Make sure you fit mud flaps on all four wheels before you start off. After all, driving safely also means driving responsibly.