Wednesday 30 September begins with cloud and patches of mostly light rain across London and south-east England. The Met Office regional forecast says the rain should clear eastwards by mid-afternoon, with winds easing and brighter spells possible later. That does not make the morning commute exceptional, but it can create fast-changing visibility, spray and different levels of grip from one road to the next. Check the latest forecast, traffic information and any local flood alerts immediately before leaving.
Check the route before the first mile
Look at the whole journey rather than only the road outside your home. A route may be merely damp at the start but wetter near a motorway junction, under trees or beside open fields. Give yourself time to use a safer alternative if official travel information shows standing water, a closure or significant delay. Never drive through flood water. Its depth, current and the condition of the road underneath may be impossible to judge from the driver's seat.
Tell someone if a longer journey is likely to be delayed, charge your phone and keep breakdown-cover details available. Set navigation and ventilation before moving so your attention stays on the road.
Create space before spray blocks the view
The Highway Code says stopping distances are at least double in wet weather because tyres have less grip. Increase the gap to the vehicle ahead before spray becomes heavy, not after you have lost a clear view. Use dipped headlights when visibility is seriously reduced, but use fog lights only when the conditions justify them and switch them off when visibility improves.
Large vehicles can throw up a dense curtain of water. Avoid lingering beside a lorry, keep a stable speed where conditions allow and be ready for visibility to change as it passes. If you cannot see far enough to stop safely, slow down smoothly and create more space. Do not follow another driver's tail lights as a substitute for seeing the road yourself.
Respond smoothly if grip changes
Read the surface ahead. Shiny patches, pooled water and worn wheel tracks can hold more water than the rest of the carriageway. Reduce speed before reaching them and avoid sharp braking or steering. If the steering becomes unresponsive because the tyres lose contact with the road, ease off the accelerator and allow the vehicle to slow gradually; do not brake hard.
Keep both hands comfortably on the wheel and leave extra room around cyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians and horse riders. Spray can hide a vulnerable road user, and a puddle near the kerb may force them to change position. Wait until you can pass with the required clearance instead of squeezing through a narrowing gap.
Make a safe-stop plan
Before joining a major road, decide what you will do if visibility, a warning light or a puncture makes continuing unsafe. Keep a high-visibility vest, torch and basic roadside items together in a secured boot organiser. On a motorway, follow the official instructions for your location, leave the vehicle only when it is safe to do so and never place a warning triangle on the carriageway.
JUFO wet-morning roadside-prep pick
JUFO 3-in-1 Roadside Breakdown Kit — £17.95
A compact way to keep practical emergency items together for an unplanned roadside stop. Store the kit securely in the boot, read its supplied instructions before a journey and include it in your regular vehicle checks.
Use a three-minute Wednesday check
Confirm that tyres look sound and correctly inflated, lights and indicators work, wiper blades clear the screen and washer fluid is available. Then check the live route, secure the boot kit and leave with enough time to drive at the speed the conditions allow. Patchy rain does not require drama; it rewards preparation, patience and a following gap that remains useful when road spray suddenly increases.
Sources: Met Office London and South East England forecast; Met Office Esher forecast; The Highway Code: driving in adverse weather; GOV.UK flood safety advice.
