[Car Tips] Driving Tips to Prevent Skidding in Wetlands and Rainy Days
🌧 Editor's honest opinion: Rainy days in Hong Kong really test your driving skills
Hong Kong's weather is humid, and rain is commonplace during the rainy and typhoon seasons (roughly May–October). Sometimes, "black rain" or "yellow rain" can turn roads into ditches. Not only does visibility become impaired, but roads can also become flooded and slippery. The following conditions are particularly dangerous:
- When it starts to rain : dust + sand + tire rubber + engine oil mix into a "lubricating oil layer", and friction drops sharply.
- Heavy rain or accumulated water : The water layer blocks the tires from contacting the road surface, making aquaplaning more likely.
- Hong Kong's roads are undulating and full of curves : it is particularly easy to lose control on sharp bends and downhill roads when it rains.
🛑 Core anti-skid driving tips
1. Slow down! Slow down! Slow down again!
- The editor must emphasize that the only necessary safety measure on rainy days is to reduce the speed of the car .
- When driving at high speed, the tires' drainage efficiency is insufficient, causing them to float up easily and lose grip.
- Although Hong Kong law does not explicitly require you to slow down in the rain, road safety rules remind you to adjust your speed according to the weather.
- Recommendation: Slow down by at least 20–30% . If the speed limit is 50 km/h, you can control it to 35–40 km/h during rain, depending on visibility and water accumulation.
2. Keep a longer distance between vehicles
- The braking distance on wet roads is about 2 times longer than on dry roads;
- My personal preference: Increase the safe distance from 2 seconds on weekdays to 4-5 seconds on rainy days.
- Pay special attention to buses, taxis and trucks, as water spray from the drains can obstruct your vision and they may suddenly change lanes.
3. Avoid sudden braking, acceleration, and sharp turns
- On a slippery road, any sudden large movement can easily cause the tire's grip to disappear instantly;
- Sudden braking : The ABS (anti-lock braking system) may be triggered. Although directional control can be maintained, the braking distance will still be longer;
- Rapid acceleration : may cause the drive wheels to slip;
- Sharp turn : The centrifugal force plus insufficient friction will cause you to slide out of the lane.
4. Beware of Aquaplaning/Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is one of the most dangerous situations on rainy days: when the car speed is too high and the water is too deep, the tires simply "float" on the water surface and completely lose contact with the road.
- sign:
- The steering wheel suddenly becomes lighter;
- The car body has a floating feeling;
- Abnormal throttle response.
- Correct response:
- Don't brake suddenly ;
- Slowly reduce the throttle and keep going straight;
- Allow your speed to decrease naturally until the tires re-contact the road.
- Common waterlogging blackspots in Hong Kong:
- Low-lying area at the intersection of Tsuen Wan Road and Kwai Chung
- Part of the bridge under the East Kowloon Corridor
- Rural roads in Sai Kung and Tai Po
5. Use lower gears to control vehicle speed
- Automatic transmission vehicles can be switched to low gear (L, 2, S) to use engine braking to slow down;
- Especially suitable for rainy days and downhill conditions, such as Clear Water Bay Road and Tai Mo Shan Road;
- Reduce the duration of braking to avoid brake overheating.
6. Check tire tread depth and tire pressure
- The tread must be deep enough to allow for drainage. Hong Kong law stipulates a minimum depth of 1.6mm, but we recommend considering a tire replacement if the tread is less than 3mm during rainy seasons.
- Tire pressure should follow the manufacturer's standards and should not be too high (poor grip) or too low (reduced drainage capacity and increased fuel consumption).
7. Turn on the lights to improve visibility
- In heavy rain, use low beam headlights even during daytime. Do not use only daytime running lights or fog lights.
- The rear fog lights are only used in extremely low visibility conditions to avoid affecting the sight of vehicles behind.
- Hong Kong's Road Traffic Rules have clear guidelines on the use of lights, and not turning on the lights will result in a ticket.
8. Pay special attention to road materials
- Asphalt road : especially slippery when it first rains;
- Metal covers (manhole covers, power manhole covers) : They are extremely slippery when wet, so avoid braking or turning when passing over them;
- Zebra crossing/painted line : It is easy to slip on rainy days, so motorcycles should be especially careful.
9. Bridge deck and high wind areas
- On high-altitude roads such as Kowloon Bay to Tseung Kwan O Cross-Sea Bridge and Tsing Ma Bridge, rain and strong winds will cause lateral thrust;
- Control the steering wheel to avoid being "blown away" by the wind;
- The vehicle speed should be further reduced in strong winds and heavy rain.
10. Be careful when parking and opening doors in rainy weather
- Water splashes will block the view of other vehicles, so be especially careful of vehicles coming from behind before parking or opening doors;
- Moor at a high position and away from the canal mouth to avoid instantaneous water accumulation caused by heavy rain.
💡 Editor's additional experience sharing
I once drove on Clear Water Bay Road in Sai Kung during a rainy night. I hadn't checked my tire pressure the night before, and as soon as I braked in the flooded section, my ABS triggered. Fortunately, I kept safe and avoided hitting the car in front. So, I always leave early on rainy days, drive slowly, and don't rush. As long as I stick to the "slow, steady, long" strategy, I can reach my destination safely, even in the rain.
📌 Three tips for safe driving in rainy weather in Hong Kong
- Slow — Slow down to reduce the risk of aquaplaning.
- Steady - Increase and decrease slowly, avoiding sudden movements.
- Far - Increase the distance between vehicles to allow enough reaction time.
