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-   -   Safe Driving in the Rains (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/road-safety/41953-safe-driving-rains-40.html)

What happened: aquaplaning/hydroplaning (please Google for better and graphic illustrations).

Why it happened: Hitting a water puddle at those speeds overwhelmed the tyre's ability to channel water away from under the tyre and the car floated over the water for a few seconds (swayed) until drier patch came up and traction was regained.

Why this car: Assuming that your tyres are mounted correctly. Weight over wheels could be a contributing factor since the wider tyres on a lighter car would lose grip slightly (but not significantly) earlier than a heavier car. But the primary reason is the speed being carried.

What can be done to prevent it:
- Keep the speed in check: The main problem is with hitting a water puddle at 90-100 kmph, in any car. Anyone who hasn't aquaplaned should consider it their good luck and an exception.

During rains and at night with limited visibility, such speeds are a recipe for disaster with or without the puddle.

- As for the tyre, check the tread depth and tyre condition to be acceptable for the driving conditions and keep 2-3 psi higher than summer/normal temperatures.

A wet road does not lead to aquaplaning, but it is easier to skid. Any amount of solid water, even a couple of mm, can lead to aquaplaning: it doesn't take a whole puddle.

Treat all wet roads with respect. Even without aquaplaning, one's simple stopping distance can be as much as doubled!

Sorry if this is a silly question but I couldn't find a clear answer. How would one handle this when driving a hybrid vehicle where the ICE turns on or off automatically ? Do we just have to revv hard and hope the ICE keeps running? Do the cars have any option/mode to keep the ICE running?

I have a new doubt about this rainy season. Where do you all keep the wet umbrella in a car? On the mat? On the seat? I had a situation where three people got into the car, each with a separate umbrella, and all three were wet. We didn't know where to keep them, so we placed them on the mat, but now it got wet. One was kept in the back seat, but it has a cover, so the water is contained. Now my car seat and mat are wet.

I saw a few accessories online for holding wet umbrellas, but is there some other workaround that people use?

Why go high tech when you can go very very low tech? :p This is what we've been using for decades. At the start of every monsoon season, we stuff a bunch of these into the seat back pockets.

This is what I have been using for about 23 years, in three cars. A 2 litre soft drink bottle, cut where it starts to get narrow at the top. Two folding umbrellas fit, if squeezed tight. I hang it on the gear shift and it rests on the floor, comfortably next to the front passenger's right leg. It also doubles as a trash can at other times.
Further, since you are talking about the rains, have a look at the second pic. A piece of rexine stuck to all the door switches, to prevent rainwater getting into them when you open the door.

Haha, true! I don't know why I didn't get this idea earlier. Thank you for suggesting it. I'll now keep a few covers in my car.



Thanks, man! This is a nice idea, and the door panel is also good. I was thinking about that too and thought it may withstand a few drops of water. Thanks for sharing."

I have been using the AWESOME Sprayway Glass Cleaner for both our cars. And I have noticed that no matter how bad the rains, no matter when you clean the glass with or without muck on it, the product keeps the glass shiny new and invisible always. Not only it cleans SO DAMN WELL but also makes the glass sparkling & invisible. It has a superb fragrance as well which makes me keep going back to it all the time, its kinda addictive lol! Because they use perfume grade alcohol, it has a great throw which clings on to the glass ensuring a thorough clean up. I know most folks would say why not use a 3M, Turtle Wax or Jopasu or even Colin, but having tried all these, ever since we have owned cars for 25 years now, the Sprayway Glass Cleaner comes out on top hands down. The Stoner Invisible Glass Cleaner is also available but the SGC is cheaper. Also x1 bottle lasts for a year + making it vfm. There are other Ammonia free alternatives available but haven't tested them so don't know. Also for the monsoons or other wise I use a dedicated Glass cleaning cloth only instead of a typical micro fibre cloth. The results are just beautiful! I kinda have a glass cleaning OCD with my Sprayway. Haha!!

I don't sell the SGC but if anyone wants one ,do let me know & will be more than happy to guide you with the same. :)

Amazon.in quotes a pack of 2 for Rs. 4250. That's pretty steep, I say. I'll go with Colin and a sheet of newspaper for now, thanks.

Yes, I also use Collins for the glass from inside the car. And probably Abro washer fluid mixed with tap water on the outside a few times a week.
For swiping inside and outside, I just use a clean microfiber cloth inside and a Scotch Brite rubber swiper outside.
For the rearview mirrors, I keep some quality tissue paper to wipe them whenever needed.
All these are low cost and easily available.

If door bottle holders are deep enough you can keep the umbrella there. They have drain holes.

Could you please post a picture or link of the exact product you use? I've been looking for something like this for a while, however have been apprehensive of buying one without a proper review.

You could try what I have been using for the last few years: slice off the top 3-4 inches of a 2 litre soft drink bottle, make two holes diametrically opposite, near the top, pass a string through the holes, adjust the length of the string around the gear knob so that the bottle sits on the floor near the right leg of the front passenger. I use it as a trash bin too, during the non Monsoon months.

After what happened in Mumbai with the hoarding falling down a complete list of where not to park should be made specially during monsoon or stormy weather.
Don’t park under trees - I would never park under or around a tree during monsoon or storms, they act as a antenna for lightning as well pose a grave threat if they get uprooted and fall over you, the chances of branches falling are also very high and pose significant threat.

Stay away from poorly built structures with metal roof - I have personally seen these temporary shades around road side where the roof is made of profile sheets dislodging and flying like blades, in a recent storm a few people were critically injured when one such tea joint along a highway was damaged by strong winds. Find shelter in properly built structures.

Refrain from being anywhere near big hoardings - We all know what happened in Mumbai, it was a sad loss of life but also serves as a lesson not to be under or near any such large hoardings which act as a wind barrier and can fall under tremendous wind pressure. Most of these hoardings aren’t properly checked before monsoon and even if they are checked metal fatigue (minor cracks in metal) would still go unchecked, refrain from being near or under them.

Also don't park near electric poles or transformers or anything that has wires hanging. When it's raining, parking anywhere is a real problem.

Avoid underpasses or tunnels, if possible. Considering how poorly designed our drainage systems are, waterlogging in underpasses/tunnels isn't very uncommon.