Why is it not advisable to overtake in rainy weather?

[LeKyle]

When driving in the rain, always pay attention to the speed and direction of the vehicle in front, and never accelerate to overtake just because the vehicle ahead is moving slowly. Especially on highways, where the speed of vehicles in each lane is relatively high, the driver's field of vision narrows. Coupled with slippery road surfaces, forcibly changing lanes to overtake can easily cause the wheels to skid with just a slight turn of the steering wheel, leading to collisions with other vehicles or even rollover accidents. The specific reasons are as follows: 1. Difficulty in judging distance: It becomes hard to accurately assess the distance to surrounding vehicles. 2. Poor visibility of overtaking signals: Drivers of nearby vehicles may not easily see overtaking signals. 3. Slippery roads: Vehicles are prone to skidding. 4. Other factors: It becomes difficult to promptly detect dangerous situations.

[StFrank]

As a veteran driver who frequently takes long-distance trips, I particularly want to highlight the dangers of overtaking in rainy conditions. Blurred visibility is the most critical issue—rainwater on the windshield is like a layer of gauze, and fogged side windows make it impossible to see the rearview mirrors. Extra caution is needed on waterlogged roads; speeding through can suddenly lighten the steering wheel, and the loss of tire grip creates a terrifying sense of losing control. Just the other day on the highway, I witnessed a three-car pileup caused by a leading car abruptly changing lanes and braking hard, while the following car couldn’t stop in time on the wet road. Rather than risking overtaking to save a few minutes, it’s much safer to increase your following distance to 1.5 times the usual gap.

[LillianaAnn]

The actual test shows that the braking distance on wet roads is 30% longer than on dry surfaces, which is quite alarming, right? In rainy conditions, tire drainage capacity drops significantly, and an emergency brake at 60 km/h can result in an extra 7-8 meters of skidding. Overtaking requires completing three actions in sequence: lane changing, accelerating, and changing lanes again—each step carries a risk of skidding. Once, while driving a test car over water accumulation on lane markings, I instantly felt the steering wheel being violently pulled, and the ABS even kicked in. A special reminder for friends who install wider tires: these tires are more prone to hydroplaning in the rain. The secret to safe overtaking is to steer gently and apply throttle gradually, but during heavy rain, it's best to abandon the idea of overtaking altogether.

[BeauRose]

With ten years of car repair experience, I've handled too many rainy-day accident vehicles, most caused by reckless overtaking. Regular sedan wipers simply can't clear the windshield properly during heavy rain, and when side windows fog up, blind spots expand by at least 50%. The worst case I've seen was an SUV hitting guardrails while overtaking a truck, all because the driver failed to spot an oncoming motorcycle. Rain-slicked roads are like greased surfaces - sharp steering will definitely cause fishtailing that even ESP can't correct. My advice: keep fog lights on for visibility, and if you must overtake, downshift properly while maintaining steady throttle. Don't imitate those reckless speed demons.

[Ricardo]

Simply put, overtaking in the rain is like overtaking on an ice rink. If the water in the tire treads can't be drained, the tires will float on a thin film of water, reducing grip to as little as 30%. Don't underestimate the spray and turbulence when two vehicles pass each other—it can instantly create a blinding whiteout that'll make your heart skip a beat. Experienced drivers know to choose straight sections for overtaking, avoid puddles, and apply the throttle in three gentle stages. Just last week, while dropping my kid off at school, I saw a taxi skid on wet road markings during an overtake, its rear swinging out in a terrifying S-curve.

[JasperMarie]

Anyone who has driven on a track understands how precious wet grip is. The limit of an ordinary family car in the rain is 40% lower than on dry roads, and the lateral G-forces required for overtaking can easily exceed the tire's limits. Not to mention the water spray kicked up by large vehicles creates a visual black hole—passing a semi-truck feels like driving into a waterfall. Last year, I helped a friend with an insurance claim after a sideswipe caused by an oncoming car whose hazard lights were obscured by water spray during an overtake. If you really need to overtake in an emergency, it's safer to first reduce to a safe speed—opening the window to listen for environmental sounds is more reliable than relying solely on vision.