Driving Skills On Slippery Roads

Check the tires regularly: Always check the condition of the tires before riding. Be sure to perform the following daily maintenance: Keep the tires inflated to the proper pressure. The vehicle manufacturer specifies the correct inflation pressure for the tires, which can be found on the edge of the door, door pillar, glove box or fuel tank opening. This pressure is also listed in the owner’s manual. The number on the side of the tire is not the recommended tire pressure – it is the maximum pressure the tire will allow. You should check your tires at least once a month. You should also check the tread depth. Proper tread depth helps prevent skidding and punctures.

　　 Drive at a reduced speed: When it rains, the dirt and oil on the road mix together, making the road slippery and weakening the vehicle’s braking ability. The best way to avoid skidding is to drive slower. Driving slowly can increase the contact area between the tire and the road surface, resulting in greater traction.

　　How to get out of a skid: Even the most careful driver can slip. If the vehicle slips, remember not to apply the brake pedal forcefully. If your vehicle is equipped with an Antilock Braking System (ABS), do not use point braking. Instead, apply a firm, steady pressure to the brake pedal and turn the steering wheel in the direction of the skid.

Be fully prepared for the road: Driving on slippery roads requires you to carefully perform all major control operations (steering, clutching, braking, and refueling) and to be alert to accidents and emergencies ahead. If you ride on a rainy day, your shoes may get wet and easily slip off the pedals when you step on them. Before starting the engine, dry the soles of your shoes on the car’s carpet or rubber feet. All drivers should regularly check that the car’s headlights, taillights, brake lights and turn signals are working properly.

　　Avoid braking on wet and slippery roads: Avoid using the brakes. If possible, slow down by releasing the accelerator. Even in light rain, the headlights should be on. This not only helps you see the road ahead, but also helps other drivers see your vehicle. If your vehicle is equipped with daytime running lights, you should turn them on to help following vehicles keep their distance from you.

　　 Maintain a reasonable distance from the vehicle in front: The stopping distance on wet and slippery roads is approximately three times the stopping distance on dry roads. Since a longer stopping distance is required, be careful not to collide with the vehicle in front. Maintain a distance of more than two bodies between your vehicle and the vehicle in front.

Know how to avoid and deal with skidding: If rain accumulates in front of the tires faster than the weight of the car can spray it out, skidding will occur. The water pressure will lift your car and create a thin film of water between the tire and the road. At this point, the car is completely out of contact with the road, and the vehicle is at risk of skidding, veering, or even sliding off the road. To avoid skidding, keep the tires inflated at all times, keep the tread deep enough, and replace the tires if necessary. If the road is slippery, slow down and avoid water on the road. Try to follow the tracks left by the car in front of you. If you notice that the car starts to skid, please do not slam on the brakes or change direction, which may cause the car to skid. Take your foot off the accelerator until the speed slows down and you regain a sense of the road. If you must brake, do so gently. If the car is equipped with ABS, please use normal braking; if necessary, the onboard computer will automatically imitate point braking.

　　If it is raining, please stop immediately: the rain will cause the windshield wipers to exceed their working load, resulting in a continuous flow of water on the windshield and impairing visibility. If your visibility is impaired, you may not be able to see the edge of the road or other vehicles at a safe distance, so you should pull over to the side of the road and wait for the rain to stop. It is best to park the car in a rest area or other sheltered area. If you can only park on the side of the road, pull over as close to the side of the road as possible and wait for the heavy rain to pass. Keep your headlights and hazard lights on to warn other drivers.

The first rain will make the road very slippery: The first rain will always make the road very difficult to drive on because the mud and oil spills on the dry road will mix with the rainwater, making the vehicle very easy to slip. The driver may feel that control of the vehicle is reduced, and you should take extra care in the first half hour after it starts to rain.

　　 Cloudy weather reduces visibility: Cloudy weather will reduce your range of vision while driving, so you need to be extra careful when overtaking.

　　 Dry the brakes after driving through standing water: If the passage of standing water is deep enough to wet the brake pads, apply a few light braking strokes to dry the brake pads.

　　 Do not drive while tired: To prevent fatigue, rest at least every few hours or every few hundred miles.