Monsoon season has arrived and that means your commute is going to be very hectic. Waterlogged roads, traffic jams, wet seats and a muddy cabin. There is enough and more to deal with during the rains. But driving in the monsoon season can be rewarding and even quite scenic. But only if you don’t have a breakdown that left you stranded or have to deal with a soggy cabin. So a little preparation and some quick thinking can save you a lot of effort. So, here are 5 things that we recommend to make your monsoon drive safe and enjoyable.
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A simple check of lights and wiring can save you serious electrical damage. You can check tire life by doing a coin test or looking for a tire wear indicator.
1. Check Your Lights, Electricals and Tires
Your vehicle’s lights and wiring get damaged easily in the rain. Make sure headlamps, indicators and other electrical components are in working order. Cover any exposed wires to avoid short circuits that can cause major damage to your car and your pocket. Check tire depth during rain to make sure you have enough traction on the road. If the tires are at the end of their lifecycle, you need to replace them immediately.
Adding a rubber mat helps clean up mud and water more easily, while a newspaper is a great stop-gap remedy and is easy to discard as well.
2. Place a rubber mat or lay a newspaper
Don’t let mud and water ruin the interior of your car and an easy way to deal with this would be with a rubber mat or just newspaper. Lay them on the floor before going inside. The paper absorbs water from your shoes and will keep the cabin dry. Don’t forget to throw away the newspaper after use.
Read also: Monsoon Car Care: 7 Things To Do When Your Car Gets Stuck In A Flood
Wet clothes lead to wet seats and wet seats for a long time can lead to mold formation. Avoid this by laying towels to soak up the water
3. Put on the towels
If you manage to get the seats wet in the car and then don’t dry the cabin in a timely manner, it will leave a foul odor and may even result in mold formation. Instead, place a towel over the seats to soak up water from your clothes to keep the seats dry. The towel not only absorbs water but helps to keep the cabin odor free, while there is less chance of water seeping into the crevices that can lead to rust in the long run.
Keep a distance of four cars during rain when traction levels are low on wet roads
4. Keep Distance
The braking distance is longer on wet roads due to less traction. So always keep a distance of at least four vehicles between your car and the car in front so that you get enough time to apply the brakes in case of an emergency. Be gentle on the accelerator and brake pedal to stay in control at all times, with less friction when playing in rainy weather.
Defogger is your best friend to clean the windshield during rain. Be sure to service your HVAC unit for easy control of cabin temperature.
5. Maintain Visibility
Your car’s defogger is your best friend during rain. Use it liberally to keep the front and back of the windshield clean. If you have a manual air-conditioning system, don’t forget to change direction via the dial. If your car doesn’t have a rear defogger, be sure to control the temperature using air conditioning. When there is fog on the window panes, simply roll the window down and move the air vents away.
We also have to point out that even though it sounds fun, don’t splash water on others. Be careful when driving in the rain and it also spreads to pedestrians. And remember not to hit the hazard light as soon as it starts pouring. You are not making yourself visible by doing this. Hazard lights or warning lights on your car are for emergencies only and should only be used in case of one.
We hope these tips help you make your drive better and safer during monsoon. happy driving!