The rainy season in Vietnam typically begins in May and ends in October. Rain could be a difficulty for some foreigners who are unfamiliar with the dynamics of Vietnamese traffic. Equip yourself with the following tips for driving safely in the rain on the street of Sai Gon.
Preparation
1. Driving with a raincoat
Make sure there is always a raincoat in the trunk of the bike! Choose a raincoat that has the right length (not too long or too short). A raincoat with a see-through covering is recommended. So that the light won’t be dimmed when you’re driving at night. You may even have one with two holes for mirrors to stick out. In case you are driving someone at the back, choose the one that has two hoods! The best option is to wear a raincoat in the form of a suit like the figure above.
2. Driving with face protection
Aside from keeping your body protected, your face also requires protection since it will be in direct contact with the rain. You will need to wear a mask because the raindrops can damage your skin and cause you discomfort. However, we do not advocate this procedure if you have difficulties breathing. Nextly, eye protection is essential. Driving in the rain with uncovered eyes is quite risky. One better option is to purchase a helmet with a windshield attached to drive the safest in the heavy rain.
3. Driving with sandals
One last thing you’ll need to drive safely in the rain is a pair of sandals with good traction on the ground. It’s because the road might be slick at times. Please remember to wear sandals rather than shoes. Because your feet get heavier as there is nowhere for the water to drain out. Flipflops might seem comfortable; yet, unlike sandals, they do not have laces to help secure them to the foot.
How to drive safely in the rain?
1. Driving with a good distance
Maintaining a reasonable distance from others is one of the most critical aspects of driving safely in the rain. The safest distance is usually between 3 and 5 meters. Remember to drive at a slow speed of 30-40km/h. So that your bike does not slide and collide with the one in front of it. Furthermore, keeping a safe gap between you and the bike in front will keep road mud from splashing onto you.
2. Driving on a less-busy or flooded street
Sai Gon has a lot of flooded streets. In order to drive safely in the rain, please take note of these ones:
- District 2: Thảo Điền, Quốc Hương…
- Bình Thạnh district: Nguyễn Xí, Đinh Bộ Lĩnh, Ung Văn Khiêm, Xô Viết Nghệ Tĩnh, D2, Phan Đăng Lưu…
- Thủ Đức district: Võ Văn Ngân, Kha Vạn Cân, Tô Ngọc Vân
- Bình Tân, Tân Phú district: Lũy Bán Bích, Kinh Dương Vương, Khuông Việt, Hồ Ngọc Lãm, Lê Văn Quới.
3. Avoid sudden stops
Another strategy for driving safely in the rain is to try to stop sooner than usual. Remember to release the accelerator and put your feet down at the same time before breaking.
4. Double check your vehicle
To ensure safe driving in the rain, the exhaust pipe on your bike should be as far away from the ground as possible. This is to avoid it getting clogged when the road floods. To avoid losing traction, make sure the tires are not too worn down.
Bring your bike to maintenance after driving in the rain for a short check-up.
Richard: 0987.248.050 (Call, Message, Zalo, Whatsapp).
Brooks: 0983.459.032 (Call, Message, Zalo, Whatsapp).
dcmotorbikessaigon@gmail.com
