Learn how to drive safely during storms and heavy rain.

While driving in the rain, we run the risk of skidding. We are also in danger of being hit by tree branches or even being washed off the road.

In addition, rain reduces visibility and makes braking difficult, so even experienced drivers should exercise extreme caution. According to the police, in 2010 almost 5 accidents occurred during the rain, in which 000 people died and 510 were injured.

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In our country, there are about 65 lightning strikes per hour during thunderstorms, and most of the thunderstorms per year occur in the summer, so this is the best time to find out what precautions to take during thunderstorms and heavy rain.

If you encounter a severe storm while driving, your best bet is to stand on the side of the road, away from the trees, and turn on your hazard warning lights or pull off the road into a parking lot.

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If the thunderstorm is accompanied by lightning, it is safest to stay in the car. It works in a similar way to a Faraday cage and protects against an electrostatic field, and loads flow down the body without endangering the life of passengers, explains Zbigniew Veseli, director of the Renault driving school.

However, while sitting in a car, avoid contact with any metal parts or any tools. It is worth remembering that lightning can strike from a distance of up to 16 km from the place where it is currently raining. If we hear the sounds of a thunderstorm, we must assume that we are potentially in a lightning field.

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If the vehicle cannot be stopped, the driver must take additional precautions. During heavy rain, visibility is significantly reduced, so you should slow down, drive very carefully through intersections even if you have priority, and keep more distance from the car in front. If possible, ask the passenger to help look for hazards on the road.

When driving behind or next to trucks and buses, be careful not to spray water from under their wheels, which further reduces visibility. You should also remember that the stopping distance of the car will be longer and the safest way to slow down is to use engine braking.

If there are overturned poles or broken power lines on the road, you should not drive up to them.

It is strictly forbidden to drive on the road where the water flows in full width and the road surface is not visible. We not only run the risk of pushing the car off the road, but also getting serious damage in the event of a collision with a pit or a hole in the asphalt.

– If the water reaches the lower edge of the car door, it must be removed, – add Renault driving school coaches. Drivers should also avoid driving on dirt roads during and shortly after rain. The resulting dirt and unstable ground can effectively immobilize the vehicle.