The beginning of the rainy season demands increased caution on the part of the drivers due to hazardous situations like flooding, slippery roads, and reduced visibility.

Luckily, Ford has safety features in their vehicles that are helpful when driving through a torrential downpour. Ford Philippines shares the following tips for drivers to ensure safety at this time of year:

Check your wipers

During an adverse weather condition, having a clear view of the road is crucial. It helps you respond quickly and easily steer the car in the appropriate direction. Before leaving, always check your wipers and clear away anything that can potentially harm your windshield. Check the condition of the wiper blades and see if they need to be replaced to make sure your wipers are in good order for wiping out rainwater.

Select variants of the next-generation Ford Ranger and Ford Everest include rain-sensing wipers, which automatically activate once it drizzles on the road.

Also read: Variant check: The 8 trim levels of the 2023 Ford Ranger

Be aware of the water wading capacity of your vehicle

You can move through floods with ease if you know how well your vehicle can handle them. Even if the Ford Ranger and Ford Everest can wade through water up to 800mm and Ford Ranger Raptor up to 850mm, it is still imperative to check the road condition first during a storm. It is best to drive in the center of the road, where the flood is likely to be shallowest, and drive in low gear to reduce the amount of water entering the engine and prevent damage to the vehicle's electrical components.

Maintain visibility at all times

Always ensure that you can see the road and other drivers can see you when driving in the rain. Turn on your headlights in order to improve both your sight of the road ahead and other road users' ability to see you. Select Ford Ranger and Ford Everest variants are equipped with LED headlights, C-Clamp daytime running lights, and LED fog lamps for improved road visibility during heavy downpours.

Additionally, vehicle cameras are helpful in enhancing driver visibility, particularly on blind spots. The next-gen Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4x4, next-gen Ford Everest Titanium+ 4x4, and next-gen Ford Ranger Raptor come standard with a 360-degree camera so that drivers can see the vehicle from all sides, especially in inclement weather.

Also read: Ever-loved by owners: Next-gen Ford Everest owners rave about their SUVs

Drive slower than usual

Driving slowly and cautiously is advised since vehicle traction and maneuverability are typically reduced when it rains and the roads are wet. Check your tires first before heading out to make sure they have adequate tread depth for the road condition.

You may also explore the drive modes on your car to improve stability. For instance, the “Slippery” drive mode on select variants of Ford Ranger and Ford Everest can be used for optimizing the engine and transmission to lessen wheel spin while the traction control strengthens grip.

Also read: Life-saving lessons we learned at the 14th Ford DSFL

Next-gen Ford Ranger special deal

Ford Philippines offers a P128,000 all-in down payment or a P25,838 monthly amortization on the next-gen Ford Ranger 2.0 XL 4x4 MT until June 30. To avail of this promotion, make a reservation on the Ford website or visit any Ford dealership nationwide.

Ford vehicle owners are also encouraged to visit a Ford dealer for vehicle checkup and maintenance, genuine Ford parts, state-of-the-art service centers, and network of Ford-trained technicians to ensure a worry-free driving experience, especially this rainy season.

Photos from Ford Philippines, File, and Hazel Nicole Carreon