Driving in Wind and Rain: These Are the Mistakes You Must Avoid

Recently, the autumn season has begun, and weather conditions are worsening, as we can see these days with the arrival of a storm bringing strong winds and rains to different areas of Spain.

When there is rain, wind... it is important to drive responsibly by reducing speed and adapting it to the special conditions of the road and weather.

It is also necessary to increase the safety distance from the vehicle ahead and avoid distractions and overtaking at all times. In situations of strong wind like the current one, you must hold the steering wheel firmly with both hands. Avoid passing through tunnels and bridges. You must consider the 'screen' effect, a situation that occurs when overtaking a large vehicle: the car's direction becomes uncontrollable, and it is important to correct it.

Avoid taking the vehicle without checking the weather or traffic conditions. There are circumstances where it is better not to drive, such as torrential rains or strong gusts of wind... Today, technology allows us to know real-time traffic and weather forecasts. Norauto recommends checking this before a trip, especially if it is long, and advises avoiding driving in extreme situations where safety cannot be guaranteed, and visibility is poor.

It is also common to drive through puddles without knowing their depth. This is another major mistake many drivers make. In these cases, the risk of aquaplaning increases. The depth of the puddle is unknown, and therefore, the tire may lose contact with the asphalt, causing loss of vehicle control.

As drivers, we must consider other more vulnerable road users: pedestrians, motorcycles, bicycles, electric scooter users. If they are caught in the rain on the road, their vulnerability increases. It is advisable to increase the safety distance from them and significantly reduce speed. Remember that we are all vulnerable users at some point.

Rain is the most common meteorological phenomenon in autumn and especially in winter in Spain, and when water is involved, the risk of having an accident increases by up to 70% according to several studies collected by the DGT.

When it rains while driving, it is necessary to use dipped headlights, increase windshield wiper speed during overtaking, extend the safety distance, and turn on the heater to prevent windows from fogging up.

Additionally, before starting to drive, we must ensure that the tires are in good condition by checking the wear of the main grooves of the tread.

If we enter aquaplaning - tires cannot expel water from the road due to wear, low pressure or excessive speed - we must hold the steering wheel firmly, not brake hard and when we feel we regain traction, correct the trajectory smoothly.

Besides these general considerations, experts also remind us what are the main mistakes when driving in bad weather.

First of all, they highlight not checking tires: they are undoubtedly one of the most important elements of a vehicle as they are its only connection with the road. If you don't check your tires, they may be worn out and therefore lose grip, especially on wet roads. Regulations state that tread depth should not be less than 1.6 mm although for better grip and safety.

Tire wear should be checked with a depth gauge. At home, this can be done quickly using a coin as a reference. If you insert a coin into tire grooves and the outer rim of a €1 coin does not protrude yet, it means that the tire is still in good condition. However if it can be seen it means that tread depth is below its limit so it would be advisable to replace it.

You can also locate wear indicators distributed across tread patterns. Manufacturers include several indicators on tire sidewalls which could be brand logos or triangles or TWI initials (Tread Wear Indicator). A tire close to this wear limit may not be safe so replacing it beforehand is recommended.

Another mistake is not checking wiper blades' condition both front rear: with rain wipers help remove water so driver can see clearly. If they're not in good condition they won't sweep properly thus worsening visibility instead of cleaning they might make things dirtier.

The optimal lifespan for wiper blades under proper functioning conditions is approximately one year followed by not checking windshield washer fluid level: it's important for cleaning windshield during first raindrops which are critical as few drops mix with dirt. Check fluid level add if necessary though it's also advisable checking oil power steering brake fluid especially antifreeze even when there's no rain.

It's common not verifying proper operation of climatizer or system for defogging windows since windows fog up when cold due temperature difference between inside outside vehicle many vehicles have automatic anti-fogging systems for both front rear windows otherwise direct max AC towards windows.

Regarding lights daylight hours decrease plus autumn rains hinder proper vision hence check no bulbs are blown they're leveled correctly use position dipped headlights during rain fog lights only if rain is intense.

Another common mistake is not verifying brakes' proper functioning: a professional mechanic should check pads discs remember braking distance increases with rain roads become especially slippery with first drops at 50 km/h braking distance nearly doubles under rain conditions.