Usually heavy rainfall falls in autumn, on such days drivers have to drive on a wet road and even on a water film.

What problems can await drivers on a wet road?

• The car can lose traction

When the car is traveling at a faster speed, the friction between the tires and the road surface is reduced. On a wet road surface, this is felt much more than on a dry one. Even on new tires, when driving at a speed of 80 km / h, on a road with a water film thickness of only one millimeter, adhesion to the roadway deteriorates by half, and when it is pouring rain, it is as much as 5 times. If the tires are already worn out, and the tread is noticeably worn out, then the numbers will be even more terrible. When the weather was dry, and the rain is just beginning, then on the road, not yet washed away by the rain, but well-moistened particles of rubber, dust and oils are a very slippery layer.

• The driver may lose control of the vehicle

The better the car's responsiveness to bends, the better the wheels grip the road surface. Therefore, so that the weather does not catch the motorist by surprise and the steering wheel does not become empty, and the taxiing is blurred in the rain, you should move at a reduced speed. Loss of control due to heavy rain and high speed makes it difficult to make sharp turns, change lanes, and avoid obstacles.

• The car may have a longer braking distance

A car, at 80 km / h, travels one and a half times longer (20 meters more) when braking on a wet road than on a dry one. Therefore, here, too, so that the increase in braking distance does not become the cause of a road accident, you should move more slowly.

• The car can go into aquaplaning mode

When the wheels of a car completely lose contact with the road and begin to float above the watery film of asphalt, this effect is called aquaplaning. The tire of a car wheel, in order to maintain contact with the road, when driving at a speed of 80 km / h, should remove about 25 liters of water per second. When the tire ceases to have time to do this, for example, due to an increase in the speed of the car, or the wear of the tread, a water wedge forms in front of the wheel of the car and the driver completely loses control, including the ability to perform emergency braking.

• Visibility may be impaired

Reduced visibility during rain also contributes to an increase in road accidents, so when driving in the rain, do not forget to turn on the headlights and monitor the performance of the wipers.

What to do?

• Do not exceed the recommended speed limit, because a safe speed limit is a guarantee of saving life, both your own and those around you!

For new tires, in heavy rain, aquaplaning can occur when driving at a speed of 60-90 km / h, but if the tire tread is worn out, then aquaplaning can begin at a speed of 30 km / h.

• Do not take abrupt actions while driving a car

When the weather brings us heavy rain, then a sharp turn of the steering wheel, sudden braking, or even vice versa, acceleration can provoke a car skid, loss of control, demolition of the front axle, etc. Maneuvers should be done smoothly and thought out well in advance.

• Check your car's tire pressure

Departure from the recommended tire pressure, in heavy rain, can lead to disastrous consequences, if you pump it, you will lose traction in the shoulder areas of the tire - if you do not pump it, you will lose traction in the central part of the tread. As a consequence, in both cases, the contact patch with the road decreases and the risk of loss of vehicle control increases.

• Watch out for tread wear

Scientists' studies have shown that the minimum tread depth, for effective drainage of water during rain, must be at least 4 millimeters, however, the technical regulations in force in the territory of the customs union allow the operation of tires with a minimum tread depth of 1.6 millimeters.

Remember, no matter what surprise the weather brings us, the driver should remain vigilant and collected on the road!