Road safety during wet weather

Being prepared for general wet weather

Driving in wet weather can be very dangerous. You should prepare and frequently maintain your vehicle to make sure you will always be as safe as possible when driving in wet conditions.

To get your vehicle ready for driving in wet weather make sure:

• you have good tire tread (at least 1.5mm deep across the whole tire width)
• all of your vehicle’s lights work well
• your windscreen and lights are clean.

Driving safely in general wet weather

We recommend you look at weather forecasts and road condition updates, and plan your drive before heading out on long trips. This will help you to avoid driving in and around unsafe conditions. However, our weather can change dramatically, even within the space of a short drive. When you find yourself in unexpected wet weather (such as a quick moving storm), follow these safety tips.

In wet conditions:

• drive slowly—to avoid aquaplaning and skidding
• drive with your lights on low beam (it is easier to see with a low beam in fog)
• use your air conditioner or demister to keep your windscreen clear of condensation
• double the distance between you and the car in front
• avoid breaking suddenly or accelerating or turning quickly—to reduce your chances of skidding
• do not drive on unsealed roads
• use road line markings to stay in the middle of your lane—in wet weather, it is more important than ever to stay in the correct position on the road
• do not drive on roads covered with water (even partially covered)
• watch out for landslides—heavy rain can cause layers of rock and soil to move
• stay away from the stagnant water by the side of the road (it can be very bad for your health).

Drive slowly

When driving in wet weather, you should always remember that the signed speed limit is the maximum safe speed in ideal driving conditions so you may need to drive slower in wet weather.

Aquaplaning

Aquaplaning is where there is a build-up of water between the road surface and your tires, causing them to lose contact with the road surface completely. If this happens, you may lose control of your vehicle.

To reduce your chances of aquaplaning in wet weather, slow down and do not use cruise control.

Skidding

If some of your vehicle’s tires slip, but you still have some traction on the road, you are skidding. If your vehicle starts skidding, it may become difficult to control. Wet surfaces can increase your risk of skidding. When you are driving in the wet, reduce your speed and allow all of your tires to grip to the road at all times.

To prevent skidding:

• accelerate smoothly
• brake smoothly
• corner smoothly.

Double the distance between you and the car in front

If you drive too close to the vehicle in front of you, you are likely to crash if they brake suddenly. Keep far enough back so that, if they do something you are not expecting, you can still stop in time.

: Image of 2 cars on the road, with a power pole. The image indicates that there should be 2 seconds between the rear of the first car passing the pole and the front of the second car passing the pole.

In good weather, make sure there are at least 2 seconds between you and the vehicle in front.

Cars

If you are driving a standard car, you should drive at least 2 seconds behind the vehicle in front of you. In wet weather, you need to double your stopping time—so you will need to travel at least 4 seconds behind the vehicle in front.

In good weather, make sure there are at least 2 seconds between you and the vehicle in front.

Heavy vehicles, trailers, and caravans

If you are driving a heavy vehicle, you should drive at least 4 seconds behind the vehicle in front of you. In wet weather, you need to double your stopping time to at least 8 seconds. If you are driving a vehicle with a trailer or caravan attached, you should allow at least 2 seconds for your car and 1 second for each 3m of your trailer/caravan in normal conditions. In wet weather, you will need to allow at least 4 seconds for your car and 2 seconds for each 3m of your trailer/caravan.

How to judge the distance

To work out how many seconds you are behind the vehicle in front of you:

1. Pick a mark on the road, or an object close to the left side of the road (such as a power pole).
2. When the back the vehicle in front of you passes the mark or object, count ‘one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, one-thousand-three, one-thousand-four’. This takes about 4 seconds.
3. If the front of your vehicle reaches the mark or object before you finish counting, you are too close and need to drop back.

Driving safely in floods

Floods can occur almost anywhere in Queensland and can rise over days, or in minutes in a flash flood.

Do not travel in flooded areas unless it is essential. If you must drive in or near a flooded area, try to view updates on road conditions and closures before heading out—so that you can take the safest possible route. But importantly, never attempt to drive across a flooded road.

Flood road signs

To keep you safe and protect our roads, we must carefully manage roads that have been flooded.

To do this, we may:

• close roads
• put load restrictions on and around flooded roads
• put traffic controls at and around flooded roads.

If you need to drive in an area that has been flooded, signs will warn you of the roads that are unsafe to use. Always follow the directions of flood road signs and drive with extreme caution. Learn the flood barriers and signs.

Flood safety tips

If you must drive in a flooded area:

• never drive on a road or bridge covered with water—floodwaters can be fast moving and contain debris
• always take extra care when driving on a road or bridge that has been recently flooded—as it may be damaged or still drying out.

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