Amid heavy rain and numerous puddles, a motorcyclist sped through a puddle, unaware of a pothole. The rider lost control and fell. Another motorcyclist, following closely, braked suddenly, also falling and colliding with the initial motorcycle in a chain reaction.

Driving experts from Car Awards identified two key errors by motorcyclists in the rain. The first error involved speeding into a flooded area without anticipating potholes. Drivers learn a mnemonic: "rain avoid white, sun avoid black". Water-filled potholes appear lighter than the road surface in rain. In sunny conditions, uneven light makes them appear darker.

The second error was following too closely. On wet, slippery roads, drivers need to increase their safe distance. This is because unexpected events require a longer braking distance than in dry conditions.

If navigating a flooded area, drivers should maintain a steady throttle and proceed slowly. Avoid sudden braking or abrupt steering while wheels are in standing water to minimize control loss or skidding.

Nguyen Vu