Driving in the wet and rain
Pouring rain and wet roads can present a whole host of driving hazards. Here’s how to stay safe in wet weather.
Pouring rain and wet roads can present a whole host of driving hazards. Here’s how to stay safe in wet weather.
60-second summaryHere’s a quick breakdown of the ins and outs of driving in wet conditions:
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Why rain can be hazardous when on the road
British weather is famously unpredictable, with rain being a frequent and defining feature throughout the year. This rain requires extra caution when driving as according to the Met Office, nine out of ten serious injuries on the road happen during wet weather.
As well as making it hard to see, rain and wet roads make it more difficult for tyres to grip and increase stopping distances. You also have spray from other vehicles to contend with.
It’s important to adapt your driving for the conditions when it’s wet. To stay safe on the roads, you need to know how to drive in wet weather all year round. Here are our tips:
Check your windscreen
A greasy windscreen makes it harder to see in rainy conditions. Make sure yours is clean before you set out.
It’s also a good idea to regularly check that your windscreen wipers are working properly and replace the blades or top up screen wash as needed.
Check your tyres
Before you set out on a journey in wet conditions, make sure your tyres are within the recommended legal tyre tread depth. Less tread depth means less grip – and in wet conditions you need as much grip as possible.
Very wet weather can sometimes cause hydroplaning or aquaplaning, which is where water builds up between your tyres and the road, causing you to lose control.
If you find yourself unable to steer in the rain, ease off the accelerator rather than braking, to help your tyres regain grip.
Regular tyre maintenance will help make sure you are always prepared for whenever you take to the road in bad weather.
Use your headlights
When it’s wet, visibility may be poor (even in daytime) so turn on your lights to make sure other drivers can see you. It’s recommended to use dipped (low-beam) headlights, especially if visibility is seriously reduced.
If you have automatic lights, double-check that they turn on in the rain as some system may not activate quickly enough during daylight rain.
Know your stopping distance in the rain
Stopping distance is the total distance your car travels from the moment you spot a hazard and break, to when you come to a complete stop. It’s made up of two things:
- Thinking distance - How far your car travels before you can react to a hazard and slow down. When it’s raining, you may have trouble seeing the road ahead. This increases the amount of thinking distance you’ll need.
- Braking distance – How far your car travels as you apply the brakes. This can double on a wet road.
With both factors needing extra time in wet conditions, your car’s total stopping distance will be greater than in ideal conditions.
Below are the typical stopping distances for various speeds under ideal driving conditions.
| Remember that in wet weather, these stopping distances will be at least double. |
| Speed (mph) |
Thinking Distance (metres) |
Braking distance (meters) |
Total Stopping Distance (metres) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 6 | 6 | 12 |
| 30 | 9 | 14 | 23 |
| 40 | 12 | 24 | 36 |
| 50 | 15 | 38 | 53 |
| 60 | 18 | 55 | 73 |
| 70 | 21 | 75 | 96 |
Keep your distance
Because of the extended stopping distances when driving in the rain, National Highways recommends increasing the gap between your car and the vehicle in front to at least four seconds. Staying well back gives you more time to react.
If you’re tailing a bus or lorry, leave an even bigger distance or you could be dealing with serious splash and spray.
Take it steady
Rainy weather can really mess with how your car handles, so it's important to tweak your driving style. Driving at a slower pace can not only help your tyres grip the road better but it also gives you extra time to react if anything unexpected pops up.
Watch out for deep puddles
Be cautious when approaching any serious-looking puddle or piece of standing water. As a rule of thumb you don’t want to drive into anything that’s more than 10cm deep – and of course a piece of water could conceal a deeper pothole. Most modern cars, except for 4x4s with a higher clearance on the road, could start to float in 30cm of water.
If you judge the water isn’t too deep to drive through, take it slow. When you get to the other side, and it’s safe to do so, lightly press your brakes to test that they are still functioning as they should.
If you think the water might be too deep, better to play it safe and seek out an alternative route.
Turn on your air conditioning
In the rain, car windows can mist up when the cold windscreen comes into contact with warm, damp air, so creating condensation. To combat this, turning on the air conditioning can quickly clear the mist by drying out the air and regulating temperature and humidity inside your vehicle.
Frequently asked questions
Does my car insurance cover flood damage?
Even if you have fully comprehensive cover, check your policy’s terms and conditions. There may be exclusions, and you may only be covered for flood damage if you’ve done what you can to keep your car safe.
If you have a third-party fire and theft policy, and feel you need flood coverage, you may want to consider getting additional cover.
Can driving in the rain ruin my car?
Rainwater could stop engines and electrical systems working properly, so never leave the bonnet open if you break down in bad weather. Keep it closed and phone for help.
Also, if you drive through water too fast you could flood your engine – be sure to take it slow.
Is it illegal to splash pedestrians when driving in rain?
If you deliberately splash pedestrians, you could be found guilty of “driving without reasonable consideration for other person” under the Road Traffic Act of 1988. If caught by the police, you could be receive anything from £1000 fixed penalty notice and three penalty points, up to a fine of £5,000.
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Julie Daniels - Motor insurance expert
Julie is passionate about delivering a great customer experience and rewarding people for saving on their insurance through our loyalty and rewards programme. She’s spoken to the media, including outlets like Sky News and Capital FM, about car and home insurance, as well as our rewards scheme.
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