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Safety and breakdowns , On the road · Updated 2026-10-18

Driving in rain and fog

Rain and fog do not make cars fail, but they make drivers less able to see and the road less grippy. The key ideas are simple: slow down, increase your distance, and make sure you can see and be seen. A car in good condition, with decent tyres, wipers and lights, makes all of this easier.

Check the basics first

• Wipers: blades that smear or squeak should be replaced. They are cheap compared with the risk. See wipers, lights and bulbs.
• Lights: check that headlights, brake lights, indicators and fog lights work. Dirty or cloudy headlight lenses reduce visibility.
• Tyres: tread channels push water away. Worn tyres lose grip and are much more likely to aquaplane. See tyre basics.
• Glass: clean the inside of the windscreen too. A film on the inside causes glare and fogs up quickly.

Driving in rain

The first minutes of rain can be the most slippery, because water mixes with dust and oil on the road. Reduce your speed and avoid sudden steering, braking and acceleration. Stopping distances on a wet road are longer than on a dry one, so leave a bigger gap to the car ahead. A simple way to keep a gap is to pick a fixed point, such as a sign, and count the seconds between the car in front passing it and you passing it. Add extra time in bad weather.

Turn on dipped headlights so other drivers see you. Avoid following large vehicles closely, since their spray can blind you. If you cannot see well, slow down rather than relying on others.

Aquaplaning

Aquaplaning happens when tyres ride on a layer of water instead of the road. The steering suddenly feels light and the engine revs may rise. Speed, worn tyres, low tyre pressure and deep water make it more likely. If it happens:

1. Do not brake hard and do not jerk the steering wheel.
2. Ease your foot off the accelerator and hold the wheel straight.
3. Wait for the tyres to touch the road again, then brake or steer gently.

The best protection is to slow down on wet roads and in places where water collects, such as dips and wheel ruts.

Standing water and floods

Do not drive through water if you cannot tell how deep it is. Just a small depth can stall an engine, and water that is sucked into the engine can cause very expensive damage. Moving water can also push a car off the road. If you must cross shallow water, go slowly and steadily, and test your brakes gently afterwards because they can be wet and weak. If the engine stalls in water, do not try to restart it; get help. Electric and hybrid cars have special rules, so follow what your manual says about water.

Driving in fog

Fog can reduce visibility suddenly and unevenly. Slow down so that you can stop within the distance you can see. Use dipped headlights, and use fog lights only where your local rules allow and only while visibility is truly poor, because they can dazzle others. Do not use full beam in fog; it reflects off the water droplets and makes things worse.

• Do not follow the tail lights of the car in front too closely, as this gives a false sense of security.
• Do not speed up to leave the fog quickly, as another bank of fog may follow.
• Use the road edge markings as a guide, but do not drift toward them.
• Open the window slightly and listen for traffic at junctions.

Misted windows

Fogged windows are common in damp weather. Use the demister setting, switch on the air conditioning (it dries the air), and direct warm air onto the windscreen. Do not wipe the inside with your hand; it leaves a film. A clean cabin filter helps airflow; see air filter and cabin filter. Wet coats and umbrellas in the car add moisture, so if you can, keep them out of the cabin.

If it is too bad to drive

In a heavy downpour or thick fog, it is fine to slow down a lot or to stop. Find a safe place such as a car park or a service area. Do not stop on the carriageway or on the hard shoulder of a busy road unless you really have to; if you do, switch on the hazard lights, get out on the safe side and wait behind the barrier. More about what to do is in what to do in a breakdown. For cold weather, see winter driving tips.

What to remember

• Slow down and leave a bigger gap in rain and fog.
• Use dipped headlights and keep glass, lights and wipers in good shape.
• Worn tyres and low pressure increase the risk of aquaplaning.
• If you aquaplane, ease off the accelerator and keep the wheel straight.
• Never drive into water of unknown depth.
• Use full beam only when it helps, never in fog.

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