[Lily]

Hi everyone,

Well, it's official... summer has waved us goodbye! The sunny days have quickly given way to grey skies, the kids are back in school, and somehow people are already talking about Halloween and Christmas (I know, I know… how dare they?!). It might not be autumn officially, but it sure feels like it.

To be honest, I've been loving the rain. I've been drinking hot chocolate or tea, watching Downtown Abbey, and starting to read murder misteries, my autumn activities of choice.

However, there’s one part of autumn I never quite get used to: driving in the rain. The darker evenings, slippery roads, foggy windows, and puddles everywhere can make it feel a bit daunting. Even dangerous.

So I’d love to hear from you: what are your top tips for staying safe on wet, slippery roads? 🚗☔


Looking forward to hearing your advice!

[olduser]

Misty windows - Use the aircon to dry the air but with heater on as well!
Why? Cold air cannot carry as much water as hot air, the aircon causes incoming air to drop water then reheating the air makes the air hungry for moisture drying the car interior much faster.

Check to see if it is time for new windscreen wiper blades.

Keep windows as clean as possible - while wiping windows, don't forget, inside, and lights front and rear.
Oil films on windscreens - I have never found any windscreen washer fluid that could shift the oil film.
I did find that white spirit (Turps sub) works on a dry screen, Meths works if screen is damp.
Don't forget to use the same on wiper blades.

If it's wet out there then assume it's slippery - you can check how slippery when traveling slowly, and straight, try hard braking, or acceleration, obviously whilst not affecting other traffic.
Leave more space between you and the car in front - no, more than that!

If stuck in snow or mud, try letting the clutch in very gently, on tick over, 2nd, or 3rd gear. An old sack or blanket under the driven wheels may help you out.

If your local roads don't get cleared these look good;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/267053494...Bk9SR7LC8pysZg

But I only tried them in a demo, they appeared to work very well.

If it's difficult to see, slowdown.

When being dazzled, stop looking at the cause, and focus on your nearside kerb.
On unlit roads, and on dipped headlights adjust your speed to match the distance you can see - dip = slowdown.

[Rolebama]

Check your tyres. You need a decent set of tyres, as there will be those on summer slicks who will lose control, and you want to be able to stop or swerve safely to avoid them.

[Rolebama]

Around 30yrs ago, when I worked for the AA, I attended breakdowns quite regularly, that were caused by engine air intakes being so low to the ground that they were sucking up water when people drove through puddles. A ridiculous problem. We tried to get 'wading depths' from manufacturers, and were met with stony silences.
When I bought my 406, and joined the Forum, the first thing I saw on the Home Page was that the air intake was 6" off the ground. I interpreted this as any puddle over 3" deep was suspect. Not really a problem here though, as it hardly ever rains, and local Boroughs are scrupulous about keeping road drains clear. 🙄

[olduser]

Oh, I had mistakenly assumed most car manufacturers had learned to pipe air into the engine from the front of the car for two reasons 1) its cooler than under the bonnet (Hood for NMNiel 😀) and 2) the ram effect is worth having. But then I suppose pre fuel injection, they were still trying to reduce unburned hydrocarbons by feeding warm air into the engine.

[Lily]

Originally Posted by olduser

Misty windows - Use the aircon to dry the air but with heater on as well!
Why? Cold air cannot carry as much water as hot air, the aircon causes incoming air to drop water then reheating the air makes the air hungry for moisture drying the car interior much faster.

Check to see if it is time for new windscreen wiper blades.

Keep windows as clean as possible - while wiping windows, don't forget, inside, and lights front and rear.
Oil films on windscreens - I have never found any windscreen washer fluid that could shift the oil film.
I did find that white spirit (Turps sub) works on a dry screen, Meths works if screen is damp.
Don't forget to use the same on wiper blades.

If it's wet out there then assume it's slippery - you can check how slippery when traveling slowly, and straight, try hard braking, or acceleration, obviously whilst not affecting other traffic.
Leave more space between you and the car in front - no, more than that!

If stuck in snow or mud, try letting the clutch in very gently, on tick over, 2nd, or 3rd gear. An old sack or blanket under the driven wheels may help you out.

If your local roads don't get cleared these look good;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/267053494...Bk9SR7LC8pysZg

But I only tried them in a demo, they appeared to work very well.

If it's difficult to see, slowdown.

When being dazzled, stop looking at the cause, and focus on your nearside kerb.
On unlit roads, and on dipped headlights adjust your speed to match the distance you can see - dip = slowdown.

Thanks @olduser, I’ll definitely have your words in my head when driving in the rain (and hopefully everyone who reads this thread in the future will too). One of my worst fears is getting stuck in the mud — especially if I’m on my own — so I’ll be adding a blanket to my emergency kit in the boot, instead of the Christmas crackers.

Remembering that everything is slippery when wet is key! It’s easy to forget just how dangerous the roads can be in the rain. My mother-in-law always tells her sons, “It’s soapy out there today,” which I think is a really descriptive way to put it.

@Rolebama THIS! I’ve just changed my two front tyres, but I still need to sort the other two.

Thanks, gentlemen!!!

[oxfordcoachhireuk]

@Lily I always make sure to check my wipers and tires, slow down, and maintain a safe distance. We utilized Oxford Coach Hire once for longer excursions in rainy weather because their minibuses are kept up nicely and make the drive considerably less stressful.

[olduser]

Originally Posted by oxfordcoachhireuk

@Lily I always make sure to check my wipers and tires, slow down, and maintain a safe distance. We utilized Oxford Coach Hire once for longer excursions in rainy weather because their minibuses are kept up nicely and make the drive considerably less stressful.

Blatant but good try!