’70s American Rock band Toto believed that the rains in Africa are blessed. Its drivers, though… not so much.
Insurance provider DialDirect notes that 27% of all road accidents are due to poor visibility which is exacerbated during wet weather conditions.
While a welcome relief for the country’s reservoirs, rain also signals an uptick in car accidents.
Poor visibility problems
The Road Traffic Management Corporation’s most recent annual State of Road Safety report shows that between January to December 2021, poor visibility and wet road surfaces ranked among the top five environmental factors that contribute to fatal crashes in South Africa.
Joburg Metro Police Department agrees saying there is an increase in vehicle accidents when the rainy weather starts, and that this is mainly attributed to wet roads, poor visibility and failure by motorists to adjust their driving to the wet weather conditions.
Dialdirect’s claim statistics show a similar trend.
“Adopting a proactive approach to wet weather driving safety, ensuring that your vehicle is up to the task and adjusting your driving behaviour is vital,” says Head of Dialdirect Insurance, Anneli Retief.
Retief noted the rainy weather also results in a proliferation of potholes, putting even more strain on our fragile road infrastructure.
Although the Pothole Patrol has made a considerable dent in Johannesburg – with over 130 000 potholes repaired since May 2021, and counting – motorists are reminded to watch out for these craters, and report them to The Pothole Patrol via the app so that they can be repaired.”
Wet weather driving tips:
- Keep an eye on the weather forecast and look for warnings of heavy rains, hail and high winds. Avoid dangerous areas where possible.
- Save all emergency numbers, including that of your insurer, on your phone and make sure your devices are charged.
- Make a conscious effort to adjust your speed and following distance. Your car needs more distance to stop on wet roads. Allow at least 4 to 8 seconds between your car and the car in front of you.
- Always drive with your vehicle’s headlights on in wet weather.
- In heavy rain, use the brightest setting for your car’s tail lights to improve visibility to vehicles behind you.
- Check your wiper blades! Keep them in good condition and do a good, clean sweep to ensure maximum visibility.
- Avoid the build-up of fog on the inside of your car windows, as this dramatically reduces visibility. Use the anti-fog features or open the window slightly.
- Check that you have sufficient tread on your tyres. This minimises the chances of aquaplaning. Though the South African legal limit is a minimum of 1mm of tyre tread, anything below 3mm can greatly increase the risk of aquaplaning.
- Worn shock absorbers also increase the chances of aquaplaning, even with the best tyres fitted. It also limits the ability of ABS systems to work efficiently, so check your car’s shock absorbers and replace them where necessary.
- Cloudy and rainy weather makes for poor visibility so take extra care when passing other vehicles. Spraying from other vehicles reduces visibility considerably, so anticipate this.
- Avoid abrupt acceleration, braking and steering movements. Sudden stops and turns may result in skidding.
- Be wary of oily patches on the road. Rain, especially at the beginning of the rainy season, often causes oil that has sunk into the road to rise to the surface, making it extremely slippery.
- Do not drive through flooded areas unless you are sure that the water is below the bottom of your wheel rims. If you have any doubt, don’t drive through the pool of water – rather, find an alternative route.
- In heavy rain, park your car under cover and delay travelling until the storm has subsided. If you are caught in a heavy storm, and you feel it’s not safe to drive, look for cover, pull over and/or seek shelter. This could include a covered car park, a petrol station or under a bridge. Don’t park under trees as there is a danger of falling branches and debris. Take extreme care when pulling over, put on your hazard lights, and don’t risk your safety or the safety of others by dashing madly for cover. Stay in your car and only leave the safety of your sheltered spot when the storm has passed.
- Flash flooding often occurs when rivers flow over low-lying bridges. Avoid crossing bridges or roads next to rivers during heavy rains. If you get stuck on a flooded road, switch to the lowest possible gear and proceed slowly. If your vehicle gets stuck during flooding or starts to get washed away, rather abandon the vehicle and get to higher ground. It is dangerous to try and drive out of the water to safety.
- Wait it out. If there is no shelter nearby, motorists are urged to pull over onto the side of the road if it is safe. In an unsheltered spot, hail damage is inevitable, but, it is safer not to drive through a storm when visibility is poor, the roads are slick, and there is a risk of aquaplaning through deep pools of water and ice.
- After driving in heavy rain for some time without applying the brakes or if you drive through standing water, lightly apply the brakes to dry them, especially if the vehicle is fitted with drum brakes.
“We can avoid carnage on our roads, but it’ll require a proactive effort from all South African road users, so make a conscious effort to buckle up, take it slow and take extra precautions when driving in the wet,” said Retief.
Compiled by Narissa Subramoney
NOW READ: Emergency services on high alert as ‘big storms’ hit Gauteng
