Emergency braking on wet roads can easily cause skidding
International driving safety surveys show that the rate of traffic accidents in rainy weather is about five times higher than usual. For novice drivers, extra care is especially needed when driving in the rain. When driving in the rain, speed control is the first priority. Due to slippery roads, tire traction significantly decreases, making emergency braking prone to skidding. When driving, it's essential to reduce speed and maintain a proper safe distance from the vehicle ahead. When encountering water pooling on the road, speed should be reduced to 20–30 km/h. Speed reduction should mainly be achieved through throttle control and light braking—emergency braking must be used with extreme caution. Driving in the rain also requires ensuring the air conditioning system is in good condition, as rainy weather often causes window fogging, and air conditioning airflow is the most immediate way to clear it.
If water droplets accumulate on the left and right windows, adjust the windows up or down to reduce buildup and improve rearview visibility. In extremely heavy rain, it’s advised that novice drivers avoid driving unless necessary. Instead, park the car on the side of the road and turn on hazard lights. In cases of heavy rain and fog, fog lights should also be turned on. If the fog is dense or the rain is very heavy, hazard lights should be activated.
Do not coast in neutral on long downhill roads
When driving to mountainous areas, you’ll often encounter long downhill sections, and in some places, mountain roads involve continuous descents lasting several hours. It’s common to see large trucks stopping halfway down the mountain to cool their braking systems. This clearly highlights the strain long downhill roads put on brakes. In such conditions, speed control should rely mainly on engine braking, supplemented by foot braking—never coast in neutral (even fully depressing the clutch in a manual transmission is equivalent to driving in neutral). Depending on the slope and curvature, maintain a controllable speed and shift to an appropriate gear. Generally speaking, the steeper the slope, the lower the gear you should use, as lower gears provide greater engine resistance. Once the vehicle enters a section with better visibility, you may slightly increase your speed, but engine speed control should still be the primary method, with brakes used only as an auxiliary measure for emergency deceleration. On long downhill stretches, also pay attention to uphill vehicles approaching, stay as far to the right as possible, and sound the horn to warn others at sharp turns with limited visibility.
Bumpy roads are a serious test for both tires and brakes. Tires subjected to prolonged compression on rough surfaces face an increased risk of blowouts. At the same time, when driving too fast, drivers may unconsciously brake frequently to maintain comfort for passengers, which is highly damaging to the braking system. Drivers should choose the appropriate gear, control speed effectively, and minimize the impact of bumpy roads on all parts of the vehicle.