Your Pre-Drive Vehicle Health Check
Before you head into a downpour, your car needs to be ready. The most critical components for monsoon driving are your tyres, brakes, and wipers. Ensure your tyres have adequate tread depth—at least 3mm is recommended to prevent skidding on slick roads.
Worn tyres are a primary cause of accidents in the rain as they can't channel water away effectively. Next, check your brakes. They may feel fine in dry weather, but their performance can degrade on wet surfaces. Finally, test your wiper blades. If they leave streaks or judder across the glass, replace them. Good visibility isn't a luxury; it's essential. A quick walk around the car to check that all lights—headlights, tail lights, and indicators—are working is also a crucial step. Other drivers need to see you as much as you need to see them.
Assess the Route and the Water Level
Never assume your usual route is safe. Heavy rain can turn familiar roads into treacherous water channels in minutes. Before leaving, check real-time traffic apps and local news for reports of waterlogging, fallen trees, or road closures. The biggest danger is misjudging water depth. As a rule, if you can't see the road surface or the kerb, do not attempt to drive through. Just six inches of water is enough to cause a loss of control or stall most passenger cars. A foot of water can float many vehicles, and two feet of rushing water can sweep away even SUVs and pickups. Underpasses are particularly dangerous as they can fill up rapidly. Always have an alternative route in mind. It's better to take a longer, safer path than to get stranded.
On the Road: Speed, Distance, and Visibility
Once you're driving, caution is key. Reduce your speed significantly; the posted speed limit is for ideal conditions, not a downpour. Driving slower gives your tyres more time to grip the road and reduces the risk of hydroplaning, where a layer of water builds between the tyres and the road, causing a loss of steering and braking control. Turn off cruise control to ensure you remain fully in command of your vehicle's speed. Double the normal following distance between you and the car ahead to account for longer braking distances on wet roads. Turn on your low-beam headlights to improve your own visibility and, just as importantly, to make your car more visible to others. Avoid using high beams, as the light will reflect off the raindrops and worsen your view.
The Danger of Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning can happen at speeds as low as 50-60 km/h and is one of the scariest experiences a driver can face. If you feel the car start to glide or lose traction, the most important thing is not to panic. Do not slam on the brakes or make sudden steering movements. Instead, ease your foot off the accelerator and keep the steering wheel pointed straight ahead in the direction you want to go. Gently guide the wheel to regain control as the tyres reconnect with the road surface. Braking should only be done gently once you feel traction has returned. To avoid it, steer clear of large puddles and, if possible, drive in the tracks of the vehicle in front of you, where the road is momentarily drier.
What to Do If Your Car Stalls in Water
If you drive into water and your engine stalls, the single most important rule is: do not try to restart it. Attempting to crank the engine can suck water into the cylinders, causing a catastrophic failure known as hydrostatic lock, which can destroy your engine. The cost of a tow is minimal compared to the cost of an engine rebuild. Turn the ignition completely off, put on your hazard lights, and assess the situation. If the water level is rising, abandon the vehicle immediately and move to higher ground. Your personal safety is more important than the car. Once you are safe, call for roadside assistance to have the vehicle towed to a workshop.
