Monsoon Road Safety: Tips for Handling Unexpected Weather Conditions

The monsoon season poses a different threat to driving by bringing in several challenges. Waterlogging, potholes, slippery roads, strong gusty winds, fog, and limited visibility are all some of the dangerous conditions that drivers have to traverse to get to their destination amidst the pouring weather. The monsoon season can turn driving into a painful task by being unpredictable and hazardous. In this blog, you will learn some monsoon road safety driving tips to remain safe while you hit the road! 

Monsoon Road Safety Tips: 

Let’s go through some monsoon road safety and driving tips that would help you drive safely in the rain:

1. Check Your Vehicle: The first monsoon road safety tip is to ensure your vehicle functions properly. Check for the vehicle’s brakes, tyres, lights, windshield wipers and other parts. Regularly maintain your vehicle and ensure that it is in top condition. 

2. Drive Slowly: The roads in the monsoon season can be extremely dangerous and slippery, which can cause accidents. The foggy atmosphere during the rains can also reduce visibility and make vehicles more vulnerable to accidents. Driving slowly can be the best option as it gives enough time and space for you to respond to unprecedented obstacles and dangers. 

3. Maintaining a Safe Distance from Other Vehicles: Driving on wet roads takes work. In the monsoon season, one of the most essential tips for road safety and driving is maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you. While driving on wet roads, if you encounter some difficulty and want to slow down immediately, it can be difficult and dangerous if you’re already speeding close to another vehicle. Driving slowly and keeping a proper distance can help you quickly stop your car. This is one way in which you can have control over the rough weather.

4. Do Not Ride With an Open Umbrella:

If you ride a motorcycle, you should be extra cautious and make sure that you do not use an umbrella to protect yourself from the rain. Instead, use proper protective rain gear, like raincoats. Riding with an open umbrella can be dangerous, as the rider has less control over the vehicle. 

5. Avoid Driving on Flooded Roads:

Flooded roads can have invisible dangers, like potholes, debris, or other obstacles. These can be dangerous and cause much harm. To ensure monsoon road safety, it is best to turn around and find another route if you encounter a flooded area. If driving through a flooded area is unavoidable, drive slowly and on low gears to prevent water from entering the engine. 

6. Wear Seatbelt and Helmet:

Always be equipped with your seatbelt in your vehicle, and if you ride a motorcycle, always wear a helmet. This is important in general, not only for monsoon road safety.

7. Fuel-up Before Setting Off:

Remember to fuel up before beginning your journey. Getting stranded in the middle of the road during a heavy downpour can be unpleasant and devastating. Also, in some areas, petrol stations can be sparse. In all such cases, it is better to be prepared. 

8. Avoid Offroading:

• To ensure monsoon road safety, avoid travelling in mountainous, muddy areas and locations where the roads are poorly built. 
• If you are stuck in a muddy spot, try not to engage your brakes, as this might further make your car sink. In this case, the right thing to do would be to shift to a higher gear and try to get away. During heavy rains, when the roads get flooded, there is a chance of hydroplaning and automobiles losing control. In this situation, holding on to the steering wheel firmly can help. 
• In the monsoon season, the roads are filled with potholes, and since you can’t know how deep a pothole is, stay away from dirt and puddles as much as possible. 

9. Keep the Headlights On: 

It is important to keep your automobile’s headlights on in the monsoons. Due to rain and cold, the weather could turn muggy, and the atmosphere would be filled with mist and fog. This leads to reduced visibility and increases the chances of accidents. 

Essential Safety Tips to Follow While Driving In The Rain

While driving in the rain, it is essential to remain extra cautious to ensure your safety and those of others on the road. Here are some monsoon road safety tips that you can follow: 

1. Prepare the car in advance: Before preparing the car, you must first check your tires. Make sure they are properly inflated and have proper tread depth. Check if your wipers are functioning properly. Ensure that all your lights – headlights, brake lights, turn signals, etc.- are working efficiently. Check that your brakes are in good condition. 
2. Wait it out if possible: The best option, however, is to avoid going out while it is raining heavily, especially if the roads are flooded and the visibility is low. 
3. Maintain a safe speed limit: Remember to maintain a safe speed. Follow the traffic rules in rain speed limits and maintain proper distance from other vehicles, avoiding sudden movements. 
4. Use headlights wherever necessary, even during daylight: Headlights are always the best option when the weather gets foggy, even during the daytime. It is a wise move to make as it can help avoid accidents. 
5.  Stay calm during hydroplaning: Avoid sudden reactions, and refrain from abruptly braking or abruptly steering if your automobile begins to hydroplane. The situation may worsen as a result of these acts. Ease off the accelerator. To slow down, gently depress the accelerator. Don’t apply the brakes suddenly. If your automobile starts to skid, gently guide it in the direction you want the front to move. When your tyres re-make contact with the road, this aids in your ability to restore control. You may gently increase or decrease your speed to return your automobile to its regular pace when you sense it is regaining traction.

Following these tips can help you navigate the roads safely during the monsoon season, ensuring your safety and the safety of others on the road.