Seasonal

Driving a Van in Heavy Rain — Safety Tips and Vehicle Checks

Heavy rain reduces visibility and grip. Check wipers, tyres, and lights before driving in wet conditions, and adjust your driving style accordingly.

Driving a laden van in heavy rain requires extra care. The most critical checks are tyre tread depth (below 3 mm significantly increases aquaplaning risk), wiper blades (replace if they smear instead of clearing), and lights (all must work for visibility). On the road, reduce speed by at least 20% in heavy rain, increase following distance to 4+ seconds, and avoid standing water wherever possible — a deep puddle can hydro-lock an engine or damage suspension components. If the van begins to aquaplane (loss of steering response), ease off the accelerator gently and steer straight — do not brake hard or turn sharply.