Driving in the Rain Tips
SAFE DRIVING
As I draw the curtain on this piece which has run for the last two weeks, let me again remind you of the hazards I highlighted when I started my tips to guide your driving in the rain. If you have patiently followed my write-up, you will recall that I opened up with series of obstructions caused by the windy rainfall in April 2018.Even in May, the windy rainfall has continued its havoc as reported by my colleague in Ogun State. According to the report, there was heavy rainfall around the Siun Junction along Ajaokuta-Sagamu express way on May 8, 2018. On that faithful day the report continued, it rained overnight and into the next morning resulting in falling tress which obstructed traffic Staff from the Federal Road Safety Commands and indigenes from the nearby communities were mobilized to use cutlasses to slash the tress into parts for ease of removal from the expressway. This incident is similar to the incident I cited earlier. For those who missed my opening piece this is how I opened my writings when I noted that, ’’Apart from Jos in Plateau State, there were ugly reminders on some hazards likely to be faced by motorist especially those who rarely heed our warnings during such period. These hazards occurred on May 5th this year when obstructions occurred as a result of fallen trees caused by windy rainfalls along the Lagos Ore expressway. These obstructions occurred on various portions of the road; the first was along the Lagos ore road 33km from lagos to ore; the second was at onipetesi,36km from Lagos to ore while there was another along the Ayetoro/Adewinle axis,44km from Lagos to ore. If you thought the windy rains were done with the cited ones, let me inform you that there were damages caused at Oniaraga axis, 47km from Lagos to ore, at Oni-tea axis-52km Lagos to ore while the last was the fallen trees after Oni Bridge, 57km from Lagos to Ore. Kudos to the Federal Road Safety Command at Ore, and Ajebanmidele who swiftly sought the assistance of Reynolds Construction Company Nigeria Limited in clearing the obstructions using their pay loader. These obstructions brought to the fore the wisdom in ensuring that your headlamps are on so as to be seen and to be seen by others which will be discussed in the course of this piece. As I go on, please remember that driving under special conditions such as the rainy season requires extra care, concentration, discipline and consideration’’. As we conclude, please allow me share this material my colleague, sent to me titled, SAFE - DRIVING TIPS ...WHEN IT IS RAINING!!! GOOD VISION IN A DOWNPOUR- How to achieve good vision while driving during a heavy downpour. We are not sure why it is so effective; just try this method when it rains heavily. This method was told by a Police friend who had experienced and confirmed it. It is useful...even driving at night. Most of the motorists would turn wind shield wipers on ‘HIGH’ or on the ’FASTEST SPEED’ during heavy downpour, yet the visibility in front of the windshield is still bad.. In the event you face such a situation, just put on your ‘SUNGLASSES’ and miracles! All of a sudden, your visibility in front of your windshield is perfectly clear, as if there is no rain. Make sure you always have a pair of SUNGLASSES in your car. You are not only helping yourself to drive safely with good vision, but also might save your friend’s life by giving him this idea. Try it yourself and share it with your friends...!!!Amazingly, you’ll still see the drops on the windshield, but not the sheet of rain falling. You’ll also see where the rain bounces off the road. Wearing sunglasses works to eliminate the “blindness” from passing cars. Or the “kickup” if you are following a car in the rain. They ought to teach this little tip in driver’s training. It really does work. This is a good warning.I wonder how many people knew about this??? Another good tip: A 36 year old female had an accident several weeks ago. It was raining, though not excessively when her car suddenly began to hydro-plane and literally flew through the air. She was not seriously injured but very stunned at the sudden occurrence! When she explained to the Police Officer what had happened, he told her something that every driver should know – NEVER - EVER ‘DRIVE’ IN THE RAIN WITH YOUR CRUISE CONTROL ON.’ She however, thought she was being cautious by setting the cruise control and maintaining a safe consistent speed in the rain. But the Police Officer told her that if the cruise control is on, your car will in fact begin to hydro-plane. When the tires lose contact with the road, your car will automatically accelerate to a higher rate of speed, making you take off like an aeroplane. She told the Officer that was exactly what had occurred. The Officer said; ‘This warning should be listed, on the driver’s seat sun-visor -’NEVER USE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE ROAD IS WET OR ICY’ Along with the airbag warning. ‘We tell our teenagers to set the cruise control and drive a safe speed - but; ‘We don’t tell them to use the cruise control only when the road is dry. The only person the accident victim found who knew this, (besides the Officer), was a man who’d had a similar accident