For Immediate release: August 28, 2014
Stay Super Dry with Chevrolet’s Rainy Season Driving Tips
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Chevrolet’s traction control and stability systems help in inclement weather
Reduced speed and extended stopping distance helps on wet pavement
Learn defensive driving techniques, how to cross flooded roads and how to
avoid aquaplaning
Tire pressure and windshield wiper condition contribute to safe travels
Bangkok, Thailand: Thailand’s rainy season has arrived, presenting unique challenges to
drivers that can catch them off-guard, including reduced visibility, slippery surfaces, unseen
obstacles and flash floods.
It may help if your vehicle comes with traction control and stability systems, such as those
found in the award-winning Chevrolet Captiva SUV, Trailblazer, Colorado pickup truck and
Cruze passenger car. Sonic’s and Spin’s Euro-ride tuned suspension also enhances
handling both in the wet and dry. Other functions such as auto rain sensors and automatic
headlights also allow the driver to focus on driving and paying attention to surrounding
situations.
“As advanced as modern vehicles are today, no amount of technological wizardry can
guarantee complete safety in hazardous driving conditions. By heeding the following tips
drivers will help ensure safety when conditions get wet. In addition, our dealer service
technicians can help customers make sure their vehicles are ready to handle wet roads,”
said Khun Supote Phuprasert, Chevrolet Sales Thailand’s new director of Customer Care.
See and Be Seen
Headlights help you see and be seen in low-light, stormy conditions. Turn them on in
extreme weather. Chevrolet dealer Mr. Thanachart Chanwaowarm, owner and operator of
Ch. Erawan Automobile Nakhonpathom Co., Ltd., recommends not using hazard lights
unless your car is a stationary obstacle others have to avoid. Similarly, turn on the fog lamps
if your vehicle is equipped with them. In addition, ensure your wiper blades are in good
condition. Worn wiper blades do not displace water efficiently, and the film of water on the
screen limits visibility.
Properly Inflate Tires
Over-inflated tires will ‘balloon’ when moving, reducing the contact patch with the road,
which reduces grip. Meanwhile, under-inflated tires will have a wider-than-normal contact
patch that may result in dangerous aquaplaning. Khun Thanachart also recommends
checking the tread; worn tires do not channel water away from the contact patch efficiently,
and this severely affects grip.
Don’t Use Cruise Control
Chevrolet dealer Mr. Narong Kongprasert, owners and operator of Charoen Motor
Chiangmai Co., Ltd., recommends not using cruise control on wet roads. Cruise Control
works by accelerating or decelerating the vehicle to keep it within the preset speed. When
tires lose grip in the wet, the wheels will naturally start to slow down and will continue to
decelerate until their revolutions match actual road speed, at which point grip is restored. If
Cruise Control is turned on, the system will detect the deceleration and will try to accelerate
to bring the speed up again. This will cause the tire or tires to completely lose grip, with a
high possibility of completely losing control of the vehicle.
Add Stopping Distance, Avoid Aquaplaning
Chevrolet dealer Mr. Perawas Mutavutikorn, operator of Chonburi Auto Center Co., Ltd.,
recommends reducing your speed in wet conditions and adding at least double the normal
stopping distance between you and the next vehicle.
Lower speeds also reduce chances of aquaplaning, which occurs when the tread in the tires
are no longer channeling water away between it and the road surface. As a result, the tire or
tires start to “float” on a thin sheet of water and from this point on, the tire (and the vehicle) is
merely skidding along.
Drivers can tell if they are aquaplaning if the steering suddenly feels light and the vehicle
does not respond to steering inputs. Or, they might notice the engine revolution (RPM) rising
and dropping suddenly, without any increase in road speed. This is normally accompanied
by a feeling of the vehicle “twitching” (as the tires momentarily lose grip, before regaining it).
This is a sign that your tires are beginning to aquaplane.
When aquaplaning happens, the driver should reduce speed without braking by easing off
the accelerator slightly. Wait for the vehicle to slow down enough and allow the tires to
regain grip. If the vehicle starts to skid, the driver should keep steering in the direction they
want the vehicle to travel until the car is travelling straight again. Keep a constant light
pressure on the accelerator. Smooth action is the key.
Driving Through Flooded Roads
Chevrolet dealer Mr. Kasern Moolsup, operator of Phra Nakorn Automobile Co., Ltd.,
recommends never driving through anything you cannot see or walk through, or is deeper
than the center of your wheels. Large SUVs and trucks can operate in deeper water, but find
out what is the fording depth specific to your vehicle.
Flood water hides what is underneath. So, if you have to drive through a flooded stretch,
make sure the road is still underneath the water and not washed away. Also be wary of
unfamiliar roads that may have dips too deep for fording. Alternatively, stop and observe if
others can drive through it safely.
If you have to go through a flooded road, aim for the “crown” of the road, or near it, as the
water is at its shallowest here. Use high revs and a low gear – first or “L” depending on the
type of transmission. Keep a constant speed. Do not take your foot off the accelerator. A
decelerating engine may induct water through the exhaust pipe and damage the catalytic
converter. You also do not want the air filter in front to ingest water into the engine so drive
very slowly. In both cases, damage will be severe and repairs costly.
Ease into the water at no more than 3 km/h, and increase to 6km/h in the water. This will
create a bow wave in front of the vehicle and a depression in water level around the engine
bay, reducing the chance of water induction via the air filter and also damage to electrical
and electronic components. Speeds higher than this will just push water into the engine bay
through the front grille.
Proceed one vehicle at a time so you will not be forced to stop in the middle if the vehicle in
front stalls. Also ensure no vehicles are coming the other way, as the wake it creates may
drown your vehicle, especially if it is moving at unreasonable speeds.
Once out of the water, apply the brakes gently to dry them. “Ride” the brake with your left
foot if you are familiar with this technique. Release when you feel the brake starts to “bite.”
Also stop to inspect and ensure nothing such as plastic bags or other debris is stuck in the
grille or radiator fins behind it.
Keep this in mind the next time you drive in the wet – 15cm of water will reach the bottom of
some passenger cars; most passenger cars will start to float in 30cm of water; 60cm of
flowing water can sweep most vehicles – even SUVs – away. It is not the speed of the flow,
but the force and volume, so do not take risks.
Drive Defensively
Chevrolet dealer Mrs. Tuanhayatee Pornputtkul, owner and operator of Yala Autosales Co.,
Ltd., recommends being smooth and avoiding sudden or abrupt braking or steering actions
that may unsettle the vehicle. Brake before you enter a curve. Accelerate gently.
Stay on or near the middle lane, or the crown of the road as water tends to collect in the
outside lanes. Be mindful to yield to faster traffic – do not take law into your own hands.
Maintain a proper distance from the vehicle in front to avoid spray which reduces vision. This
is important especially if you are behind large vehicles. If possible, drive in the tire tracks left
behind by the vehicle in front as these tracks are ‘less flooded’ than other parts of the road.
Exercise extreme caution if it rains after a long dry spell, especially if it is just a drizzle and
not an outright downpour. During dry periods, oily deposits (from exhausts, leaks and so on)
build up on the road surface. A slight drizzle will bring the oily deposits to the surface (oil is
lighter than water), creating a slippery sheen that is extremely hazardous. In extreme cases
it will be like skating on ice. It takes a while before this is washed away and only if the rain is
heavy enough.
Enroll in courses that teach defensive driving. Knowing how to handle understeer, oversteer
and correct a vehicle’s attitude in any given situation will not only increase confidence but
also enhance your reaction when such incidences happen on the road.
In any kind of weather, drivers should always keep their eyes on the road and both hands on
the wheel.
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About Chevrolet Sales Thailand
Chevrolet Sales Thailand (Chevrolet) Limited was established on January 1, 2000, as a subsidiary of
General Motors, one of the largest automakers in the world. The first vehicle introduced was the
Chevrolet Zafira, the first multipurpose vehicle (MPV) launched in the Thai market. Today, Chevrolet
has a comprehensive range of vehicles, including the Sonic, Spin, Cruze, Captiva, Colorado and
Trailblazer. Chevrolet is committed to offering the best cars and trucks to its customers in terms of
quality, performance and fuel economy. The company is equally committed to ensuring second-tonone aftersales service for its customers, backed by a growing dealer network in Thailand and
Southeast Asia. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com
For more information, please visit www.chevrolet.co.th , http://media.gm.com/ or
www.facebook.com/chevyclub
You may also contact:
Prinda Udomwong
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications
General Motors (Thailand) Limited
Chevrolet Sales (Thailand) Limited
prinda.udomwong@gm.com
Tel : +66 2791 4811
Mobile: +66 092-253-9456
Kristopher Spencer
Weber Shandwick Thailand
kspencer@webershandwick.com
Tel +66 2343 6000 Ext. 065
Mobile +66 0 925 522 018