Storm Season Explained: Vehicle safety
News
Driving during a severe weather event can be unnerving and dangerous, but there are ways motorists can prepare their vehicles to improve safety.
RACQ Principal Technical Researcher Andrew Kirk explains carrying out a few simple maintenance checks can make a big difference when driving in hazardous conditions.
“We encourage vehicle owners to check their headlights and windscreen wipers are working and their tyres have enough tread (3mm or more) to repel water and prevent aquaplaning, which can be extremely dangerous,” Mr Kirk said.
“You can also go the extra mile and put a water repellent spray on the exterior of your windscreen to help rain bead off quickly and an anti-fog treatment on the inside to help improve visibility.”
Mr Kirk said if you are driving in adverse conditions, it’s important to remain calm and drive to the conditions.
“Slow down, don’t take corners at high speeds, put your headlights on and double the recommended ‘two-second gap’ following distance to at least four seconds
“In wet conditions, a vehicle’s stopping distance increases by more than 20%, so if you’re travelling at 80 km/h – a vehicle will travel 85 metres before it stops, and up to 143 metres when travelling at 110km/h.
“We also recommend finding somewhere under cover to park your car during a storm, but never under a tree because strong winds can cause branches to fall onto the vehicle.”
RACQ’s recent Attitudes Towards Storm Season report found one in four Queenslanders admit either themselves or someone they know had driven across a flooded road.
“This is extremely concerning, because not only are they putting their own lives at risk, but those of others, including any passengers, or emergency services workers who may need to rescue them,” he said.
“No matter how shallow you think the water may be, you can’t see what’s beneath the water, and in some extreme cases the road may have been washed away completely.
“If risking lives isn’t enough of a deterrent, then it’s also worth considering the damage that can be caused to your vehicle.
“Driving through floodwaters can spray water into the vehicle’s air intake and ruin your motor. If water reaches the door sill, where most of the car’s electronics are located, and enters the cabin, the vehicle is pretty much a write off.
“We can’t stress it enough, if it’s flooded forget it.”
RACQ’s Andrew Kirk is one of several leading experts featured in RACQ’s Storm Season Explained series. This series provides a deep dive into a range of key issues to help inform and educate Queenslanders ahead of, and during, storm season.
“We encourage vehicle owners to check their headlights and windscreen wipers are working and their tyres have enough tread (3mm or more) to repel water and prevent aquaplaning, which can be extremely dangerous,” Mr Kirk said.
“You can also go the extra mile and put a water repellent spray on the exterior of your windscreen to help rain bead off quickly and an anti-fog treatment on the inside to help improve visibility.”
Mr Kirk said if you are driving in adverse conditions, it’s important to remain calm and drive to the conditions.
“Slow down, don’t take corners at high speeds, put your headlights on and double the recommended ‘two-second gap’ following distance to at least four seconds
“In wet conditions, a vehicle’s stopping distance increases by more than 20%, so if you’re travelling at 80 km/h – a vehicle will travel 85 metres before it stops, and up to 143 metres when travelling at 110km/h.
“We also recommend finding somewhere under cover to park your car during a storm, but never under a tree because strong winds can cause branches to fall onto the vehicle.”
RACQ’s recent Attitudes Towards Storm Season report found one in four Queenslanders admit either themselves or someone they know had driven across a flooded road.
“This is extremely concerning, because not only are they putting their own lives at risk, but those of others, including any passengers, or emergency services workers who may need to rescue them,” he said.
“No matter how shallow you think the water may be, you can’t see what’s beneath the water, and in some extreme cases the road may have been washed away completely.
“If risking lives isn’t enough of a deterrent, then it’s also worth considering the damage that can be caused to your vehicle.
“Driving through floodwaters can spray water into the vehicle’s air intake and ruin your motor. If water reaches the door sill, where most of the car’s electronics are located, and enters the cabin, the vehicle is pretty much a write off.
“We can’t stress it enough, if it’s flooded forget it.”
RACQ’s Andrew Kirk is one of several leading experts featured in RACQ’s Storm Season Explained series. This series provides a deep dive into a range of key issues to help inform and educate Queenslanders ahead of, and during, storm season.