Wet weather driving

For a small island country, the weather in Singapore can be so unpredictable- you never know when it's going to rain, whatever the weatherman says. That's why it's good to know what to do if you're suddenly caught in a heavy downpour or worse, a flood.

Turn on your headlights

This helps you see the road ahead and lets other drivers see you better. However, don't turn on the high beam as it will only obscure your view, because the light will reflect off the water droplets in the air.

Stop driving

If it's raining so hard that you can't see the road or the car in front clearly, pull over and wait until visibility improves.

Increase stopping distance

Roads are slippery during downpour and your car requires a longer distance to come to a complete stop. The rule of thumb when driving in normal dry conditions is to keep a two-car length between you and the car in front of you. This distance has to be longer in wet weather to give you more room in case you need to make an emergency brake.

Brake gently

You can do this to decrease your speed gradually and to increase the stopping distance between you and the car in front of you. It also gives the driver behind you ample warning that you're slowing down.

Avoid large puddles

Try to avoid driving through large pools of water because there is no way to gauge how deep the water is. If you have no choice but to go through the water, proceed very slowly and cautiously.

Don't use cruise control

Using cruise control in a heavy downpour is discouraged because you may keep your feet away from the accelerator and brake pedals, which would decrease your reaction time should you need to brake suddenly.

Secondly, if your car starts to hydroplane, it can cause the car to automatically accelerate to pick up the slack and keep the car going at the established cruise control speed.

If it floods...

Never drive through moving water if you can't see the ground through it. It may be easier for you to decide if you're familiar with the area or able to use signposts or traffic lights to judge the water level. If the water is deeper than the bottom of your doors, try to turn around and find another route.

Manual cars should be engaged in first gear. Keep the engine running fast by releasing the clutch just enough to partially engage the gear and maintain the revs constantly high. In an automatic car, select the lowest gear and keep a steady pace. Keep your foot on the accelerator and use the brake to control your speed. The aim is to keep the exhaust gases moving to prevent water from entering the tailpipe.

Test your brakes as soon as you can after driving through the water. If the brakes don't work properly, drive very slowly and brake lightly at the same time to generate enough heat to dry out the brakes. If your vehicle stalls, wait to be towed and don't try to restart the engine.

Source: The Straits Times Saturday, March 26 2011