Why is it not advisable to overtake when driving a motor vehicle in rainy weather?
2 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.
