Driving In Bad Weather

Roads Can Become Rivers!

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Some learner drivers will cancel or postpone a lesson rather than drive when it is raining! If it is your first or second lesson that is understandable but sooner or later you will have to drive in rainy conditions! It could even happen on the day of your driving test, so better to face it before that!

The recent heavy rains, flash floods and localised tornadoes prove that even in “sunny Cyprus” we can experience bad weather conditions whilst driving. So what should we do in these cases? Well, if the weather conditions are extremely bad, you should think twice about using your car in the first place. Is the journey really necessary or can it wait until the weather clears up?

Realistically, there are times when you will have to drive in bad weather so it pays to be prepared in advance. Most bad weather does give some advance warning, so there is no excuse for not at least making some basic checks on your vehicle to ensure it is in tip-top condition. If you have no idea about basic mechanics or are just not interested in doing these checks yourself,  get your local mechanic to give your car the once-over before winter begins. Here are a few of the things to check for:

• Tyres-Make sure they have plenty of tread left, are not unevenly worn and are inflated to the correct pressure. If you don`t do high mileages in your car, and have had your tyres for some time, check that they have not perished. The strong sun and hot conditions in Cyprus take a toll on rubber and plastic car parts. The tyres may look OK treadwise but if they are very hard to the touch or show signs of cracks or wrinkles on the sidewalls they really should be replaced. Don`t neglect to check the most important tyre you have-the spare wheel!
• Windscreen Wipers-Don`t wait until you are caught in a thunderstorm to discover your wiper blades have perished and are smearing instead of clearing the water! Check also that the screen washer system is working. (Putting some white vinegar in the washer bottle can help to stop limescale from clogging up the narrow nozzles that spray the water onto the screen)
• Lights-Make sure all your lights are working properly so that you can see and be seen in bad weather conditions.
• Heater & Screen heater-These are often neglected until they are needed.
• Car Battery-Get your auto-electrician to check your battery and electrical system is fit for the extra workload it will face during bad weather conditions.
• Antifreeze- Yes, even in Cyprus there are times when your engine cooling system could freeze up over night. Check that you have the correct amount of antifreeze in the system and check all hoses and replace any dodgy ones before they let you down!

Driving in bad weather conditions means making adjustments to your driving style. Most importantly, it will mean driving slower and leaving more distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. Try to avoid sudden braking or changes of direction, especially if the roads are icy.

If the roads  have been dry for a long time, the first rain can leave the road surface very slippery as there will be deposits of oil and tyre rubber which can form a dangerous and invisible hazzard. Expect this mostly at traffic lights and junctions where vehicles are stopping frequently and spending time stationary.

In Cyprus the roads tend to flood very quickly so watch out for deep puddles or even road rivers! Try to avoid the deepest water where possible and drive slowly so as not to get water into your engine bay, or your engine could stall or even be seriously damaged.

Also, try not to drench any unfortunate pedestrian or biker by going through a puddle too fast. If you`ve ever experienced that yourself,  you will know how unpleasant it is! I`ve seen a few 4×4 and “double cab” drivers doing this.

When coming out of a deep puddle press the brake pedal lightly for a few seconds to help dry off the brakes.

Switch on your lights when visibility is poor by all means but remember fog lights are only meant for fog! I see a lot of drivers who put them on whenever it rains, with the result that they dazzle other drivers.

There are times when the rain is so heavy that your wipers just can`t cope. If you can`t see properly, the only thing to do is find somewhere safe to pull over and wait for it to ease off.