KEY POINTS:
It's well known that New Zealanders are among some of the worst drivers in the world.
I can say this with some authority, having lived overseas and driven through many countries.
Among some of the more interesting have been France and Italy during peak traffic time in Paris and Rome. That was pretty bad, but still doesn't hold a candle to New Zealanders.
I commute into Auckland every day from the north and get to see a lot of bad driving - and now wet weather is here it's only going to get worse.
Not only is the general level of skill poor in the dry, add in the rain, wind and snow and the wheels will well and truly fall off. I know the only real way to solve the problem is to teach drivers how to drive and not how to answer questions.
I have listed below a series of helpful hints on getting the driver and their car ready for the winter.
TYRES
People tend to forget that the tyres, and only the tyres, are the things that keep the car on the road. Not the leather interior, the big fat V8 under the bonnet, the stereo or the mag wheels.
Drivers can't afford to neglect these most important pieces of equipment and more so in the wet.
If the tyres are worn and the tread depth is below 2mm, they lose their ability to pump water away from the road surface and will aquaplane, resulting in a complete loss of steering. Check tyres for wear and pressure to ensure maximum grip.
DRIVER'S VISIBILITY
If you can't see where you're going, you're bound to hit something. Modern technology has bought with it more efficient windshield wipers and better de-misters.
The wiper blades have to be good enough to remove water without streaking. Remember to put screen wash in the washer tank to remove road grime build-up.
Clean your windscreen after a car wash as the wax causes the water to bubble up and smear.
Clean the inside of the screen to remove any film that may cause bad reflections or distortions as you drive. Cleaning the inside of the windshield is particularly critical.
CAR'S VISIBILITY
If you can see the other car but he can't see you, you're still in a lot of trouble.
One of the most important factors in safe wet-weather driving is being seen by other drivers, so turn on your low-beam headlights when it rains, even during the daytime.
In a really heavy downpour, when you've either pulled over or are doing less than 20km/h, it might be an idea to put the hazard lights on.
However, Land Transport New Zealand states that hazard lights should only be used to indicate a temporary hazard to traffic: your vehicle has broken down and you're awaiting assistance.
DRIVING
Never has a radio jingle been more appropriate than the one saying: "Drive to the conditions."
The biggest bugbear of New Zealand drivers is they are reactive drivers and not proactive. Look around you when driving and take note of the conditions and what other drivers are doing. Just because some fool is still doing 120km/h in the rain doesn't mean you have to.
Give yourself more room from the car in front so you can stop and stay out of the mist and rain thrown up from the car in front.
At night, use your low-beam headlights to avoid excessive glare from the raindrops. Remember: high beams do not help visibility in the rain.
Even new tyres can aquaplane in the wet so watch your speed. If the steering begins to feel light as you go through a deep puddle, gently reduce your speed to regain control. Don't panic by doing something abrupt that will upset the balance of the car.
Never drive through deep water as it's impossible to tell how deep it is from inside the car.
If you do manage to get through, test the brakes before going too fast.
Don't forget the windscreen wipers have two speeds so use the higher speed in heavy rain.
Be prepared to lose visibility momentarily when passing a truck or encountering one coming the other way.
Light rain after a long dry spell will bring oil and dust to surface of the road, making it a skating rink - so slow down until you can gauge the grip level.
BE SAFE
The biggest factor with safe wet-weather driving is you and your judgment. When visibility drops and roads flood, only you can tell when it's time to pull off and take a break. It's better to take longer to get to where you're going than not to turn up at all.
