How to handle a car in bad weather?

Both new drivers who have recently received their license and experienced drivers know that in bad weather they need to slow down and keep both eyes on the road. But, unfortunately, this is often not enough. Fog and rain remain one of the main causes of road accidents. And if you drive your own car, then worsening weather conditions will be an unpleasant surprise, and if you drive someone else’s or rented one, then it will be a serious reason for stress. If you need a daily car rental in Kyiv, and the weather suddenly turns bad, this is not a reason to cancel your planned trip. Today we are talking about several life hacks that will help you avoid serious troubles.

Slippery road? Slow down!

Accident statistics show that in rain and slush, many drivers do not reduce their speed or increase their distance. If you are used to moving at a speed of 80 km per hour, then during bad weather you need to slow down to 40-60 kilometers per hour. Also take into account the increased braking distance. In good weather, at a speed of 80 kilometers, the braking distance of the car will be short - 38 m. But in the rain, this parameter increases to 78 m. On a road strewn with dirty snow, you will “ride” another 132 meters, but on ice the car will carry several hundreds of meters.

Attention! If you rent a car for daily rent in Kyiv and choose an SUV, keep cool and don’t try to be reckless. When making a sharp turn, such a vehicle may tip over due to its center of gravity. In addition, driving a heavy vehicle with all-wheel drive is very difficult.

To stop the car in bad weather, press the pedal in short bursts: first press down harder, and then release several times. To simply slow down, you should gently press the brake. Sharp turns on slippery roads are excluded. If you rent a car in Kyiv daily in the autumn season, reduce the speed on roads strewn with leaves to the minimum possible. The grip on such areas is worse than on ice.

Rain is coming? If you have a rear-wheel drive car, you will skid to the side when braking sharply; if you have a front-wheel drive car, the wheels will “jam.”

When a slippery road becomes covered with puddles, a layer of water can form between the wheels and the road, causing you to lose control. In this case, immediately stop pressing the gas. The risk of hydroplaning will increase when you drive one axle into a large puddle at a speed of 70-80 kilometers per hour. However, this phenomenon can occur even at a speed of 40 kilometers per hour.

Fog is the cause of 80% of accidents

If you get behind the wheel and find fog, you should immediately turn on your low beam headlights. Also install fog lights on your car in advance and turn them on as soon as the humidity rises. A low, wide beam of light will immediately identify the car on the road. A rear fog light is also a good option for protection from a traffic accident. If all else fails, turn on the emergency lights: the flashing bright lights will be clearly visible to oncoming cars. When fog forms, you should pay attention to two important circumstances.

- Don't believe your eyes. Through steam and drops of water, all objects seem more distant (twice!).

- Be careful when turning. If you like to turn sharply, creating a controlled skid, then you should not do this in rain or fog. Even if your speed is only 40 kilometers per hour, when turning on a wet or wet road, you will most likely end up in a ditch.

If you decide to rent a car in Kiev daily, contact the LuxServis company. All our cars are insured, so you don't have to worry!