Sudden weather changes

Sudden weather changes can confuse drivers. When the blazing sun gives way to heavy rain during your journey, or vice versa, you need to remember to adapt your speed and driving style to the prevailing conditions.

In the rain, drivers often instinctively slow down, but after the rain, when the sun comes out, they dynamically accelerate. forgetting that the road surface is usually still wet in such situations,” explains Zbigniew Veseli, director of the Renault driving school. “Running into a puddle can momentarily drastically reduce visibility and even lead to hydroplaning, that is, sliding through the water,” he adds.

Rule of thumb for sudden weather changes: slow down. A reduced speed will allow the driver to see how the situation has changed and adapt the driving style to the current weather conditions.

When sunny weather suddenly turns to rainy:

• Slow
• stay in the right lane when driving on a multi-lane road
• increase the distance to the vehicle in front, as on wet roads the braking distance can even double
• Keep both hands on the steering wheel, as water that accumulates in ruts, for example, can make maneuvering difficult.
• avoid overtaking; when other drivers are overtaking despite the prevailing conditions, be especially careful, as water from passing cars can splatter the windows of your car, and you may lose visibility for a while.

You can not close your eyes and make sudden movements with the steering wheel when water splashes from under the wheels of another car. When a driver carefully observes the traffic on the road, he knows when such a situation may arise and therefore does not cause any dangerous reactions, Renault driving school coaches say.     

When rainy weather suddenly becomes sunny:

• slow down, let your eyes adjust to the new conditions
• wear suitable sunglasses, preferably polarized, as the sun's rays can blind you when reflected off wet surfaces.
• drive carefully through puddles or avoid them when it is safe to do so
• remember that the road surface can remain wet for a long time and there is a risk of skidding.