A heavy downpour can hide street diggings, potholes, ravines, road hazards
and debris. Be vigilant when following tall vehicles like an SUV, van, or a
truck with high ground clearance and large tires, and not only because they
reduce your visibility by not letting you see beyond the vehicle in front.
Humps or mounds on the road may not affect them, but these can catch you by
surprise and destroy your car’s underside. Getting stuck inside a damaged car
under a driving rain sets you up for worse troubles.
Better safe (and late) than sorry
When it starts raining heavily, and you think driving can be a problem, just
stop, whether you are familiar with the route or not, and regardless of road
visibility. Look for high ground or a safe place where you can park and sit it
out. Better wait until the rains die down or visibility improves. In case of a
strong downpour that lasts less than an hour, do not make the mistake of
driving off immediately from your refuge as soon as the rains stop, thinking
that it’s safe to drive on. Wait for another hour until the water flows out and
disperses all its energy. Flash floods surprise many motorists this way.
Slow down
The first few minutes of rainfall are dangerous. After the first drops of
rain seep into the road, oil from the asphalt, road tar, oil droplets, and
grime float to the road surface. A thin film of oil between the surface and
your tires cause roads to be slippery, making you lose control when you brake
or steer hard. Better slow down and wait until the rains wash away this film.
Roads are more slippery after a light drizzle than after a heavy rain, but this
does not mean it is safe to drive at high speeds as uneven patches on the road
create water ponds where hard braking or sudden steering can make you lose
control. Remember, rainwater changes the road conditions and affects the
reliability of your braking system. Be careful. Slow down.