driving on a rainy day

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen,

As the heavy rains come down remember these safety tips:

While driving on a rainy day

Proper driving practices are important for safe driving in rainy conditions, regardless
of the state of your tires.

1. Making use of the wipers

Is it essential to get the wiper blades replaced? Every 6 months to a year, we suggest
changing the windshield wipers. In the shower, stains and smearing from old,
degraded wiper blades limit visibility significantly.

2. Take it slow
When it's muddy or raining, the tires’ traction reduces by a third, so decrease your
speed by about the same degree. In the storm, for instance, if the posted speed is 45
mph, you can travel at 30 mph.

3. Keep a respectful space between you and the next car because
the brakes responds differently in the rain.
4. Stop twitchy steering and hard braking
In the mud, making rapid, forceful motions is a simple way to skid or lose control of
the vehicle. Have plenty of time to rest and avoid yanking the steering wheel or
taking sharp corners.

5. Ensure the headlights are turned on: When using windshield wipers,
drivers are also advised and even expected to switch on their headlights.
This makes it easier for you to see and for others car users to see you.

 Rather than drown, turn back.

Have an eye out for pools of water and don't move into it if you can't see the bottom.
A compact vehicle may be carried by a few inches of flowing water, and the lane can
be swept out by floodwaters.

7. When hydroplaning, be smart

When tires ride on top of a film of water, they hydroplane and lose all touch with the
road. You would be unable to steer the car as a result of this. It occurs more often in
heavy rain or at high velocities on slick roads, but it may also occur in light drizzle or
at velocities as minimal as 35 mph.
If you're hydroplaning, slowly release the accelerator pedal, and don't spin the
steering wheel until the tires have recovered traction. If you notice yourself spinning,
gently move the steering wheel in the desired direction. Avoid slamming on the
brakes!
Watch for pedestrians: Take care not to splash pedestrians. Watch for
puddles along the roadway where they may be walking parallel to you as
you drive.

Drive-in another vehicle’s tracks: Make it easy for your tires to handle
the water and see what’s up ahead by following in the tracks of a vehicle
ahead of you — give them plenty of space.

Keep an eye out for traffic risks, cyclists, and stalled vehicles.

When it starts to rain, particularly after a long period of dry weather, be extra
cautious. This is due to the fact that the first rainfall combines with asphalt grime and
oil debris, resulting in slippery conditions.

Avoid staying back in vehicles when there is rainfall and flooding. Once the flood waters reaches half
of the wheels (tires) the vehicle can be swept away by the raging water.
While walking on the roads:
Be cautious when you cant see the road or where you place your legs.
Watch out for open drainage, potholes, gaps in gutters, moving items, sharp objectslike nales and
metal plates, wildlife and other germ riden items.
Use Safety boots.
Wash legs with soap and disinfectants afeter moving through a flood.
Be watchful of electrical wire, power poles and other electrical sources.
When walking on a road you are not use to walk behind someone and follow their path.
Remain
Avoid sending children on errands when it is about to rain or immediately after rainfall. You know
children like to play under the rain and would not know the dangers embedded in running into
floodwatersuch as potholes, shallow or deep gutters or drainage, electricity and biological hazards like
germs, worms, wild life.
Avoid walking or driving during rainfall, especially near drainage.
People living inside a building should be cautious and observant to look for signs of crack or shift in
buildings. All collapsed buildings have signs or signals they emit before collapse, such as cracking
noise, sudden cracks on the pillars or beams, roofs shaking and many unusual development happening
about 48 hours to the eventual collapse.
Avoid walking in floodwaters because of live electric cables to avoid electrocution and switch off all
utilities in the building once it starts to rain.
Do not walk through moving water. Six inches of moving water can make you fall. If you have to
walk in water, walk where the water is not moving.
Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.
If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground, when water is not
moving or not more than a few inches deep. You and the vehicle can be swept away quickly. If your
vehicle is trapped in rapidly moving water, stay in the vehicle. If the water is rising inside the vehicle,
seek refuge on the roof.

Safety for pedestrians in the rainy season