Sunday 27 September is ending with a useful reminder for drivers in parts of southern England. Met Office local forecasts for London and Surrey show rain arriving from late afternoon into the evening after a largely dry start to the day. Conditions will vary across the UK, so check the latest forecast for your route, but the first spell of rain after drier weather deserves particular care: water can mix with dust, rubber and oily residue on the road before it is washed away.
Reset the car before the evening journey
Do not wait until visibility deteriorates to discover that the windscreen smears or the washer bottle is low. Before moving, clean the outside glass, clear condensation fully and check that the wipers sweep without leaving broad streaks. Confirm that dipped headlights, indicators, brake lights and rear lights work. The Highway Code says lights, reflectors and number plates must be kept clean, and windscreens and windows must be free from obstructions to vision.
Check tyre pressures against the vehicle manufacturer's figures when the tyres are cold, especially if the car is carrying passengers or luggage. Look for cuts, bulges or embedded objects, and do not rely on a dashboard warning as a substitute for a visual inspection. Secure shopping bags, pushchairs and loose equipment in the boot so that nothing can move into a footwell or distract the driver.
Use smoother inputs on newly wet roads
The Highway Code advises that stopping distances in wet weather are at least double those needed on dry roads. Build the extra gap early, before spray or traffic compresses your view. Accelerate, steer and brake progressively, particularly near painted road markings, drain covers, bends and junctions where grip can change unexpectedly.
If the steering feels unusually light over standing water, ease off the accelerator and slow gradually rather than making a sudden correction. Avoid following the rear lights of the vehicle ahead as if they were a guide line; keep enough space to stop within the distance you can see clearly. Use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced, generally below 100 metres, and switch fog lights off when visibility improves so they do not dazzle other road users.
Turn the Sunday check into Monday readiness
When the car is safely parked, take five minutes to prepare for the next journey. Top up washer fluid if needed, remove wet clutter from the cabin, charge the phone and decide where you would stop if the weather or concentration worsens. Check the Monday route for planned works and disruption rather than assuming the usual road will be clear.
Keep essential items together and secured. A torch, high-visibility vest, water and practical roadside equipment are easier to find when they are in one organiser instead of spread between door pockets and loose bags. Store the kit so it cannot slide around, but make sure it can be reached after the vehicle has stopped safely.
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Choose a safe stop before you need one
If rain becomes heavy, visibility drops or tiredness develops, use a service area or another suitable place of relative safety. On a motorway, leave at the next exit or pull into a service area if possible. Do not stop on a hard shoulder or in an emergency area unless there is a genuine emergency. If the vehicle develops a problem and you cannot reach a safer place, follow the latest Highway Code breakdown guidance and call for help.
The aim is not to make an ordinary wet evening feel dramatic. It is to remove avoidable surprises: clear glass, working lights and wipers, legal tyres, secure luggage, longer gaps and a planned stop. Those checks improve the Sunday journey and leave the car ready for Monday without a rushed start.
Sources: Met Office London forecast; Met Office Surrey forecast; The Highway Code: adverse weather; The Highway Code: vehicle maintenance; The Highway Code: breakdowns and incidents.
