Road Safety During Road Safety During MonsoonMonsoon

MONSOON DRIVINGMONSOON DRIVING► First rains First rains

► The first rains always make the roads the most difficult to The first rains always make the roads the most difficult to drive on, as the mud and oil on the dry road combines with drive on, as the mud and oil on the dry road combines with the water and forms a rather slippery layer.the water and forms a rather slippery layer.

► Drivers are likely to experience reduced control, and are Drivers are likely to experience reduced control, and are cautioned to be extra careful for the first half-hour after it cautioned to be extra careful for the first half-hour after it begins to rain. begins to rain.

► Roads with freshly laid bitumen become very slippery when Roads with freshly laid bitumen become very slippery when wet and care should be taken while traveling on these wet and care should be taken while traveling on these stretches stretches

MONSOON DRIVINGMONSOON DRIVING► Hydroplaning / Aquaplaning Hydroplaning / Aquaplaning

► During heavy rains a layer of water builds up beneath your During heavy rains a layer of water builds up beneath your tyres. As you drive at higher speeds, the car begins sliding on tyres. As you drive at higher speeds, the car begins sliding on this layer and can cause you to loose all contact with the this layer and can cause you to loose all contact with the ground. This is called hydroplaning, and greatly reduces ground. This is called hydroplaning, and greatly reduces control, allowing even slight gusts of wind to cause your car to control, allowing even slight gusts of wind to cause your car to skid. Thus it is extremely advisable to avoid high speeds during skid. Thus it is extremely advisable to avoid high speeds during rains. rains.

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If your car hydroplanes: If your car hydroplanes: completely stop acceleration completely stop acceleration keep the steering steady keep the steering steady avoid braking till the speed reduces and the tyres grip the avoid braking till the speed reduces and the tyres grip the roads again.roads again.

MONSOON DRIVINGMONSOON DRIVING

► Keep your distance Keep your distance

► All cars require some minimum distance - called the "stopping distance" -All cars require some minimum distance - called the "stopping distance" -before its comes to a complete halt once the brakes are applied.before its comes to a complete halt once the brakes are applied.

"Normal" Stopping distances for cars at different speeds

Normal Stopping distances Normal Stopping distances

Dry RoadsDry Roads Wet RoadsWet Roads

40 kms per hour40 kms per hour 30 metres 30 metres 36 metres 36 metres

50 kms per hour50 kms per hour 45 metres 45 metres 53 metres53 metres

70 kms per hour70 kms per hour 65 metres 65 metres 75 metres75 metres

85 kms per hour85 kms per hour 90 metres90 metres 105 metres105 metres

100 kms per hour 100 kms per hour 120 metres120 metres 140 metres140 metres

Reduced road grip during the rains increases "stopping distances".

Make sure that your tyres and brakes are in good condition and that you maintain an extra safe distance from the vehicles in front.

MONSOON DRIVINGMONSOON DRIVING► Driving through flooded roads Driving through flooded roads

It is important to judge whether your car can, in the first It is important to judge whether your car can, in the first place, go through the flooded road.place, go through the flooded road.

Switch off the AC as the electric fan that operates the AC is Switch off the AC as the electric fan that operates the AC is likely to throw water on to the enginelikely to throw water on to the engine

Drive in the centre of the road, where the water is probably Drive in the centre of the road, where the water is probably the shallowest. Moreover there is a possibility of getting the shallowest. Moreover there is a possibility of getting stuck in open manholes and gutters at the side of the road stuck in open manholes and gutters at the side of the road which cannot be spotted as they are submerged which cannot be spotted as they are submerged

► Drive in the first gear, with the accelerator constantly Drive in the first gear, with the accelerator constantly pressed, using the clutch to control speed. (especially if pressed, using the clutch to control speed. (especially if the exhaust is submerged under the water) While the exhaust is submerged under the water) While traversing a flooded stretch of road, drive in a low gear traversing a flooded stretch of road, drive in a low gear and avoid changing the gearand avoid changing the gear

► Drive as slowly as possible to avoid the water splashing Drive as slowly as possible to avoid the water splashing over the engine over the engine

MONSOON DRIVINGMONSOON DRIVING► Braking Braking

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Your brakes tend to become less effective in the rains, Your brakes tend to become less effective in the rains, or when you have driven through a flooded road, or when you have driven through a flooded road, especially drum brakes. especially drum brakes.

► Pump the brakes repeatedly so that the heat Pump the brakes repeatedly so that the heat generated evaporates the moisture, and braking ability generated evaporates the moisture, and braking ability is restored to normal .is restored to normal .

► If you feel that you are skidding or when you are If you feel that you are skidding or when you are driving fast in the rains, never apply brakes at a single driving fast in the rains, never apply brakes at a single stretch, but do so intermittently, braking, and stretch, but do so intermittently, braking, and releasing pressure before braking againreleasing pressure before braking again