Rainy day driving

To speak the truth, I really do not know why the traffic in Singapore just get a to a halt when it rains in Singapore.  Maybe we are so used to not having the four seasons, or maybe the wet weather just gets us down.  Somehow the accidents during a rainy day gets high.  When I was able to drive, I dread driving on a rainy day.  Most of my accidents involved rainy days because during rainy days people tend to snooze in more.  When they do so, they cannot find a taxi or even Uber car to get them to work or school.  SO what happens.  Parents will offer them the ride: resulting in rush and extra traffic to the road to school or work.  OR even worse if the parents already left, the grandparents STEP up.

Not that I like to condemn our pioneer citizens.  But some of them on the roads are really scary, they forget their spectacles, they cannot operate the vehicle properly and they just go on the roads.  Imagine if it is a heavy down pour how dangerous that could be.  There was once I got hit in the “backside” by an old uncle because he thought he saw GREEN light:(  Turn out he had to send his grand son to school.  Luckily it was not a major accident.  We managed to solve it fast and move on.  The best was he was scheduled to go for a cataract extraction the very same week.  When asked why he chose to drive on that day, he said he sympathised with his grandson having to go for so many types of classes in a week.  So What can we do on rainy days???

TIPS FOR A RAINY DAY TRAFFIC

1. MAKE THAT DECISION take leave or go to work / school:  Yes ! Please do not snooze and snooze and hope that you can wake up on time.   You never will.  On a rainy day, just decide whether you want to sleep in, take leave or go to work.  If you chose to go to work, then please wake up on time and don’t expect that your speeding will get you to work on time.  In fact, I recommend that you take Public on a rainy day to work.  It is more the excuse to put up when you are late.  MRT s are also proven to be more effective on a rainy day.  It really beats the traffic and although there might be slower timing when the MRT is on above ground, in general it is better than getting stuck in the traffic jam.

1. Vehicle Check: Make sure that if you are going on the roads, your car is well and in serviceable condition.  This is like elementary, but there are people who go on the roads with their brakes not working, wheels balding, and wipers dried up.  For the rainy days, most important are: WIPERS, BRAKES and the WHEELS.  Make sure that these three are well and ready to go.  Make sure that you do not fog up the car while on the roads and make visibility low for your vehicle.  You need to be able to see and check the blind spots at all times.
2. EMERGENCY NUMBERS: Yups, they are very handy, and you never know when the accident occur whether you have handphone access or even your hand phone have battery.  Here are some of the numbers that you might want to note down on a card board and place in your car, so that when there is a breakdown or accident , you will have quick access to the information.
3. DO NOT RISK IF YOU ARE DELIVERING Flammables or bulky items: When I mean bulky I mean if you are driving class 4 and above vehicles.  These large monsters are more difficult to manoeuvre on rainy days as blind spots are hard to be located.  Either stay by the HQ and wait for the rain to be over or you can try to schedule for another delivery day.

AA Singapore: http://www.aas.com.sg/: Being a member gets you updates for road information and vehicular matters.  This organisation is reputable and very responsive in Singapore.

AA LOGO

The island recovery Services Singapore: http://islandrecovery.com.sg/: Team of road specialists whom you can rely to tow or move your vehicle to safe haven.  They are also very responsive and fast in their services.

Credits: From Islandrecovery website

The Orange Force by NTUC: http://www.income.com.sg/value-added-services/orange-force: Group of recovery specialists on the roads by the NTUC income group.  They help with all the needs on emergency road evacs and also this service comes with specials if you have an insurance with the NTUC group.

credits: from the orange force site

ALL IN ALL, we know it, we drive our vehicle but we forget it at times.  Just be more conscious.  What you are handling is a machine it has no feelings so be really careful! ONE LAST THING, keep your mobiles other electronic devices off the hands and make sure if you are myopic, wear your glasses when driving on a rainy day.  You need to be really on focus!

The main thing as TP always say : Get home safe for your loved ones!