Why is it not advisable to overtake when driving a motor vehicle in rainy weather?
3 Answers
The reasons why it is not advisable to overtake when driving a motor vehicle in rainy weather are: 1. Difficulty in accurately judging the distance of surrounding vehicles; 2. Surrounding drivers may have trouble clearly seeing overtaking signals; 3. The road is slippery, making vehicles prone to skidding; 4. Inability to promptly detect dangerous situations. When driving in the rain, it is essential to slow down, constantly monitor the distance between vehicles in front and behind, increase the safety distance, and mentally prepare to take various emergency measures. If necessary, turn on the hazard warning lights to ensure that following vehicles are aware of your movements and avoid accidents. When the rain is heavy and obstructs the driver's visibility, it is advisable to turn on the headlights or front fog lights.
From my perspective as a safety consultant, overtaking in rainy conditions is downright unwise. Wet roads extend braking distances by more than double compared to dry conditions—your car might not stop promptly even with hard braking. Visibility is another major headache: raindrops hammering on the windshield obscure the road ahead, while blurred side mirrors make it impossible to track vehicles behind during lane changes. I’ve personally witnessed an accident where a rainy-day overtake led to hydroplaning and a crash into roadside barriers—luckily without injuries. Slippery surfaces also heighten the risk of aquaplaning, where tires lose traction abruptly. My advice? Drive patiently in rain, maintain extra-long following distances, use fog lights to boost visibility, and ditch any overtaking urges—safety is priceless.
I just got my driver's license not long ago, and that time I tried to force an overtake in the rain really scared me to death. The rain was pouring down like a waterfall, the windshield was all fogged up, and I couldn't see a thing in the rearview mirror. As soon as I stepped on the gas to change lanes, the car lost control, skidded, and wobbled left and right, almost hitting the guardrail beside me. The coach harshly criticized me, saying that tire friction is extremely weak in the rain, and overtaking requires more time and space, but the rain makes everything blurry. Now when I drive in heavy rain, I move slowly and never make sharp turns. After all, as a new driver, safety comes first—it's more important to stay cautiously in my lane and wait for the rain to stop or lighten before considering speeding up. Avoiding risks keeps me at ease.
