You are driving a vehicle in the rain. Which of the following actions should you first of all take in order to drive more safely?
Show the correct answer
Correct answer
C. Decrease the speed.
Explanation
In the rain, the most important thing for safety is to reduce your speed - answer C. Switching off traction control (A) takes away the help of the electronics exactly when it is most needed, and driving in ruts (B) is dangerous, because water collects in them and a skid is most likely there.
A wet surface has half the grip of a dry one, the braking distance can double, and at higher speed the tyre cannot remove the water fast enough and rises onto a layer of water - this is aquaplaning, when neither the steering wheel nor the brake works. The Road Traffic Act requires you to drive at a speed that ensures control of the vehicle, taking weather conditions into account. In the rain you slow down, increase your following distance and avoid sudden steering movements.
Legal basis: Art. 19 para. 1 of the Road Traffic Act (Prawo o ruchu drogowym)