Spray from large vehicles in rain
Practical advice for meeting and passing large vehicles when rain makes visibility very poor.
Spray from large vehicles in rain is a separate problem, even for drivers who otherwise handle wet roads well. When a bus or truck throws water over your windscreen, you can lose almost all visibility for a few seconds.
What you need to know
- Water spray from large vehicles can leave you nearly blind for short periods.
- Distance is the most important margin you control yourself.
- Passing large vehicles requires more planning than passing ordinary passenger cars in the rain.
Typical situations
| Situation | What you should do | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| On a motorway behind a truck | Increase the gap until you can see clearly through the spray again. | Following too closely to maintain the same speed. |
| Meeting a bus on a narrow road | Prepare for a moment of reduced visibility and hold a good line. | Being surprised and yanking the steering wheel too much. |
| Overtaking in rainy weather | Plan the pass early and complete it with a good margin. | Hanging alongside the vehicle for too long in the spray zone. |
Common mistakes
- Staying too close behind a large vehicle in poor visibility.
- Starting an overtake without knowing how long you will remain in the spray zone.
- Making sudden steering inputs when the windscreen is suddenly covered with water.
How to practice
Use this together with Aquaplaning and rain , Large vehicles - give space and Windscreen wipers and washers .
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