As the heavy rain pours down across Edinburgh, many won't let the weather stop them from going where they want in the capital.
However, according to the latest research, only half of drivers in the UK slow down while driving in rainy conditions - meaning 25 million drivers don’t. In the study by ATS Euromaster, younger drivers are the least likely to slow down, with less than a third saying they do (29 per cent), compared to 66 per cent of over 55's.
Only eight per cent of new drivers admit to slowing down in heavy rain. There’s an average of 16 injuries for every rainy day across the UK, whilst 1 in 8 have admitted to having had some sort of accident in wet and windy weather.
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A third of drivers said they feel very unsafe driving in heavy rain, whilst one in ten (11 per cent) will try and find a different way to travel. If you do have to drive in the heavy rain today, Simon Waye, technical engineer at ATS Euromaster has provided tips to driving safely.
Here are the eight things you should check before set off this winter.
Check your tyres
Tyres with very low tread wear seriously affect the grip they have on the road. You can check your thread by using a penny upside down in between the tyre tread if you can see the top of the Queen’s - or now King's - head, the treads are worn and need replacing.
The legal limit is at least 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre. You may want to consider getting all season tyres too, which can be more effective at gripping.
Check windscreen wiper blades
It’s important to check that your front and back wiper blades are functioning. If not, then get these replaced.
Windscreen wipers not working properly can cause a distraction, as they won't clear the screen efficiently enough to let you see where you're going while driving.
Fill up the tank
Getting stuck in traffic in bad weather increases your fuel consumption so make sure you have enough fuel in your car.
Getting stuck on the side of the road with no fuel in this weather is not for the faint-hearted!
Use dipped headlights to avoid £50 fine
If visibility is seriously reduced due to rain and spray from the roads, you should use your dipped headlights to help you and others. The research revealed almost two thirds (62 per cent) of British drivers are not aware that using these will help improve visibility, despite the fact that it could land you a fine.
Failing to use the appropriate lights when you are unable to see for more than 100 metres ahead of you could land you a £50 on-the-spot fine if stopped by police.
Reduce your speed to the conditions
During heavy rainfall, the roads will inevitably be more slippery than usual, which affects your braking time and general control of the car. Give yourself more time to react.
Highways England says you should slow down and increase the gap between you and the vehicle in front to at least four seconds.
Be careful when braking
Braking or driving too fast in wet conditions can cause aquaplaning where your tyres lose grip of the road. If your steering suddenly feels light, this could be happening.
If this does happen, ease off the accelerator, don’t brake and allow yourself to slow down until you have regained grip.
Be wary of large puddles on the road
Don’t drive through a puddle if you can’t see the bottom of it. This can be very damaging to your car, and you could become stuck.
If you do drive through a big pool of water, it’s important to check your brakes afterwards.
Keep your aircon on (yes, really!)
Driving in the rain can mean your windows are likely to quickly steam up. Make sure you have your air conditioning on to make sure your visibility isn’t reduced.
Driving with misty windows could land you a £1,000 fine and three points on your license.
For more of the research and tips to drive safely in bad weather, the ATS Euromaster website has all the information.
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