Driving in the wet: Rain safety tips for Hong Kong motorists

As we’re right in the thick of the rainy season now, it’s important for Hong Kong motorists to adjust to the conditions. Wet weather, typhoons and strong winds can all cause havoc on the roads and drivers need to take extra care to ensure they don’t cause accidents or injuries. This week, Kwiksure has some helpful rain safety tips to help you stay on the roads this wet season.

1. Check the tread on your tires

The Transport Department states that the minimum depth of tread allowable on your tires is 1 millimetre throughout at least three quarters of the breadth of the tread. Bald tires are dangerous to both you and other motorists around you. The grooves on a tire help channel water away so the tire can maintain contact with the ground and reduces the chance of hydroplaning (where water causes the car to lose traction).

Cars with no tread will find it more difficult to stop or brake and may, in some cases, cause a driver to lose control. For this reason, Kwiksure would recommend ensuring that you have sufficient tread around all of your tire and that you replace them immediately if they’re worn. If you find yourself hydroplaning, do not panic and brake suddenly. Calmly take your foot off of the accelerator and let the car slow down itself until you feel the grip come back to your tires.

2. Drive slower and be extra vigilant

Another reason for vehicles hydroplaning in the wet and losing traction is because they’re driving faster than the conditions will let them. Smart drivers will take rain safety measures seriously and slow their normal speeds down to reduce the risk of them driving hazardously. Driving slower makes it easier to react to other motorists should something go wrong, and gives you extra time to come safely to a stop when necessary.

While you’re driving slower, use the extra time you have to be more observant of the road conditions around you. Try to avoid driving through pools of water as the water thrown up can block the visibility of you and drivers around you, affect your brakes and, in extreme cases, stop your engine. If the rain is coupled with high winds, be on the lookout for fallen debris from trees or buildings on the road too.

3. Check your following distance

Another rain safety tip that’s universal around the world is to check your following distances. The Transport Department guidelines suggest that drivers should at least double their braking distances to ensure drivers have enough time to brake suddenly. In some countries, the “Two Second Rule” is used to gauge following distances when dry, so a “Four Second Rule” could be applied when doubling the distance in the wet.

The way the rule works is you count for two or four seconds, dependent on the conditions, once the car ahead of you passes a landmark (such as a tree, lamp post or intersection). If you pass the same landmark before you finish counting, then you are too close. The second rule should be used as a minimum for distances, meaning drivers should increase their following distance beyond four seconds if the conditions call for it.

4. Use your headlights responsibly

In rainy weather, the water spray from car tyres and rainfall splashes can cause distracting dazzling effects on other road users. For this reason, fog lamps can be a poor choice of lights to use in wet weather and should generally only be used when visibility drops below 100m. Your main headlights should also only be used during the day where they won’t cause distractions for other drivers, but will alert them to your presence on the road.

When in doubt, put yourself in the position of the drivers around. Consider what your car might look like to them, whether they can see, and whether they might be blinded by any of your lights.

5. Driving through flooded areas

In general, floods should be avoided at all costs. Even if it seems like a pretty small amount of water, flash flooding can happen without warning and the safety of the passengers will be more important than the vehicle at that point. Drivers should always try an alternative route before attempting to drive through a flooded area, or see if they can park up and wait for the flood to subside.

When waiting or finding a detour is not possible, then you’ll want to follow these rain safety steps for driving safely through floods:

Examine the road for water depth and any potential obstacles: If the water is higher than your wheels or bonnet, it’s going to be far too high for you to drive through. You should also study the current of the water to see if there are any ripples being made that might indicate a hazardous obstacle lying beneath the water surface.

• Aim to drive on the highest part of the road: The middle of the road is generally the highest and will give you the best chance of avoiding catastrophe. Avoid the sides of the roads where the camber is lowest; this is where the water will likely be deepest. Also try to keep one car or lane going through flooded waters at a time as oncoming vehicles can cause waves that can interfere with your route.
• Keep a constant speed and don’t stop: Once you’ve broken through to the water, keep at a constant speed or accelerate if need be. Stopping can cause water to flow back into your radiator grille and through to your engine, or can be sucked up your exhaust pipe if you try to reverse - both likely causing expensive damage to your vehicle.
• Pump/test your brakes when you exit the water: It’s important to test your brakes once you have left a body of water as leaving the brake pads wet until you need to slow down at high speed can lead to a loss of traction or an inability to stop safely.

 Again, Kwiksure would advise against driving through flooded areas. As well as putting your own safety at risk, you also risk causing significant damage to your vehicle that may not be covered by your insurance company.

Will my insurance cover damage related to wet weather?

Most insurance policies will cover damage related to rainy conditions, but the level of cover depends on whether you hold third party or comprehensive insurance. Third party insurance will only cover damage to other parties, while comprehensive plans will reimburse you for any damage caused to your vehicle. It’s worth knowing which type you have as ignoring rain safety increases the risks of accidents occurring.

In times of flooding, check what your policy says with regards to not just driving through flooded areas but about parking your vehicle during a flood. Some policies may not cover damage or loss to cars or motorbikes when they are parked on a public street during a flood, while others may not provide coverage for drivers intentionally driving through flooded waters. Knowing what you’re covered for can save you money in the long run.

If you’re looking for either third party or comprehensive car insurance in Hong Kong, the expert team at Kwiksure are always available to help. Their experience as drivers of Hong Kong roads means that you can be sure that their insurance solutions are made for drivers of the Special Administrative Region. For a free quote or advice on rain safety, contact the team at Kwiksure today!