How to stay safe while driving in the rain

Dubai: The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Police have called on motorists to practice caution while driving during the erratic weather conditions, as the chances of traffic accidents increase during rain, storms, wind and fog.

Badr Al Siri, Director of the Traffic Department at the RTA, said according to forecast reports the country is experiencing seasonal unstable weather and called on motorists not to ruin the happiness brought by the rains by causing accidents.

He said motorists should avoid driving in such weather unless it is necessary.

Al Siri said there are certain guidelines which motorists need to abide by during rain, wind and fog, which can greatly affect visibility.

He said driving in rainy and unstable weather requires more caution and attention, as speeding on wet roads causes vehicles to slide and lose control. For a vehicle travelling at 60km/hr, a braking distance of 35 metres is needed to avoid hitting the vehicle in front in case of sudden stop.

Al Siri said leaving a lot of space between vehicles on the roads can be difficult, especially during traffic jams. Therefore, it is safer to reduce speed, especially when nearing flooded areas.

Some tips:

• Make sure the headlights and the front windows of the car are clean before staring the journey.
• Reduce speed, leave enough space between vehicles and avoid overtaking.
• Do not change lanes unless necessary.
• Turn on headlights, but avoid turning on hazard lights, except in emergency cases. Using hazard lights all the time prevents a motorist from alerting other motorists to an emergency.
• Make sure the window wipers work properly to constantly clean the window and have clear visibility.
• Be aware at all times for danger such as a vehicle suddenly braking in the front or vehicle entering from a side entrance. This means not using mobile phones when driving, for example.
• Allow more time to complete a journey, especially during low visibility.
• Motorists in four-wheel drive vehicles are advised to respect other road users by not speeding in flooded areas and spraying water on other cars.