How to Drive in Heavy Rain: Tips To Stay Safe When Driving in Rain

Driving in the rain is something that gets even the hardiest drivers’ backs up. Luckily, all it takes to stay safe in these less-than-ideal conditions is some car sense.

Some things go without saying, for instance, taking extreme caution when jumping a car in the rain (you don’t want exposed wires on your jump leads). But what about dealing with bad weather when you’re actually on the road? In this guide, we’ll give you all the secrets to good driving in wet conditions. You’ll know how to drive in heavy rain in less than 10 minutes.

How Does Rain Affect Driving?

The biggest impact rain has on driving is that it increases braking distance. Brakes don’t work as efficiently on wet surfaces, and with rain driving, there’s a heightened risk of skidding or hydroplaning. Think of it as a little bit like driving on ice; you’ve got to break sooner and softer.

However, what’s often overlooked — and potentially even scarier for drivers — is the increase in thinking distance. This is how long it takes a driver to register the need to stop and press that brake pedal. When driving in rain you should know that visibility can be drastically reduced. Driving becomes dangerous if the rain falls faster on your windscreen than your wipers can effectively clear. You could lose total sight of the car in front of you and even fail to register an obstacle in the road, like a bend or set of traffic lights.

When they know they might be driving in heavy rain, drivers should ensure their vehicle is in top condition, especially its wipers and ventilation system. When rain hits unexpectedly, slow down and brake softly.

A Step-By-Step Guide to Driving in Rainy Weather

The easiest way to stay safe is to know what to do when driving in the rain. So, to arm you with practical skills, here are six driving in rain safety tips.

Step 1: Avoid Hard Braking

Learning how to drive in the rain just involves tweaking some of your usual driving practices. The major thing to remember is no hard braking, ever. Part of knowing how to drive safely in rain is understanding that the conditions can cause skidding. If you break hard, you risk skidding out of control, so avoid that with gentle pressure.

Step 2: Slow Down to Avoid Hydroplaning

Hydroplaning is where you slide across a water surface. It’s a scary experience, and occurs because your tires no longer have an adequate grip on the road. With braking out-the-window and steering dangerously limited, it’s one of the biggest risks of driving in wet conditions.

To reduce your risk, simply slow down. Where possible, also avoid puddles and large bodies of water accumulating on the road. It’s one of the most important tips for driving in the rain to remember.

Step 3: Turn on the Car's Ventilation System to Reduce Fogging

A good driving tip for the rain is to whack on your ventilation system as soon as possible. Why? Because this helps to stop your windscreen and windows fogging up, which would otherwise further reduce visibility.

If you’re asking, “What is a good driving tip for driving in the rain?” You’ve got it. Preventatively switching on ventilation is a savvy way to get one step ahead. This way, you aren’t rushing to press a button when you’ve already lost a high amount of visibility.

Step 4: Avoid Sliding and Spinning Out of a Turn

To drive safely in the rain, turn softly — no harsh steering. Similarly to braking, this can throw your vehicle into an almighty skid, and it’s even possible to accidentally send your car into a full spin. Every movement should be gentle when navigating wet roads. Slow down well before you reach bends to reduce how harshly you’ve got to turn.

Step 5: Turning off Cruise Control

Cruise control can be great; it’s handy to have a system that automatically manages your speed, especially when staying comfortable on long journeys. However, there’s only one thing that cruise control should always be in the rain, and that’s off.

Without manual control over your vehicle’s speed, you heighten the risks of all the other points we’ve mentioned, from hydroplaning to spinning out on turns. Switch the cruise control off, and take an active role at the wheel.

Step 6: Turn on Headlights to Improve Visibility

There are so many questions about managing vehicles in the rain. From “Can I jump a car in the rain” to “How do I handle a skid?”, it makes sense that your head is overwhelmed by all that brain noise. Amidst all that thinking, though, don’t forget a simple yet vital thing: turning on your headlights.

The sooner you turn on your headlights, the lower your risk of an accident. Other drivers can see you more easily, and it might just improve your visibility, too.

The Vital Thing That Everyone Forgets

If you’ve got a car, driving in rain is going to happen at some point. Sometimes, you’re caught outside in the rain. Just picture it: running back to your vehicle with your hands (badly) guarding your face from the onslaught of water drops. You jump in, slam the door, and phew — safe, right? Not quite. Just look down at your feet; there are two damp puddles.

Protecting your car from damp starts from the ground up. Part of driving in heavy rain is preventing damage to your car’s interior through waterproof mats. At a minimum, you want a custom-fit front set of quality car mats.