Rain in Ireland is as common as it gets. It rains up to 255 days a year & with rain, comes extra risks on our roads.
Our AA Safety Centre provides you with all the information you need to know on driving in the rain with everything from precautions to staying safe on Irish roads.
Preparing your Home for rain
- Are all doors & windows able to securely close?
- If you live in a house, is the roof completely sealed & gutters clear?
- Debris can build up in your gutters over time & can cause water to collect. This can lead to water flowing in the wrong direction & potentially leaking into your roof.
- Take photos of your property, any outside items which are covered on your Home Insurance policy. This will help if you need to make a claim. If you need to check your level of cover, you can do this through your MyAA portal.
Preparing your Car or Vehicle for Rain
- Are your tyres road legal & inflated to the correct pressure? If you’re unsure, you can check out our Car Tyre guide
- Are your wiper blades in good condition & able to clear water as it lands?
- Are all your lights (front & back) working correctly?
- Not sure which lights to use in rain? Read more on headlights on our guide here.
- Does your vehicle have a toolbox & safety kit?
Driving in heavy rain
- Always remember that your vehicle stopping distance in rain is increased. If you’re using the 2 second rule, double this during heavy rain to 4 seconds. This should give you enough distance from the vehicle in front.
- If the steering becomes unresponsive due to surface water beneath your tyres, ease off the accelerator until the car comes to a gradual halt.
- If you had to enter a pool of water, drive through it slowly only when clear of other traffic & test your brakes as soon as you can after exiting the water.
- Read up more on our Flood Safety Tips
- Use extra caution when driving behind all vehicles & leave a greater distance. Spray from vehicles in front reduces your visibility.
- If traveling at speed, me conscious of aquaplaning. Especially when travelling at speeds of 100 km/h or 120 km/h.
- If the rain increases, reduce your speed, drive with dipped headlights & leave a greater distance from the vehicle in front. This will help you to be seen by other road users.
- Remember, roads are shared with other users like motorcyclists, cyclists, pedestrians. These are particularly vulnerable on the roads & may need to avoid a pool of water or move out of the way of an object fast. Make sure to leave 1m-1.5m between your car mirror & them.
