Taking cover. Gearing up for the monsoon

While monsoon brings us joy, we have to cope with the problems associated with the rainy season. Monsoon has a significant impact on automobiles; trends show that the rate of road accidents increases during the monsoon season.

Automobiles are prone to accidents due to rusting or jamming of iron spare parts. The risk of accidents is also high due to slippery roads and lack of sufficient lighting.

While we have little control on the vagaries of the rainy season, some simple precautionary measures can help us avoid or minimise potential damage to vehicles that are otherwise common during the monsoon.

Ensure that your car parts are well-maintained and all spares are in good condition before the monsoon sets in. Apply a fresh coat of wax for the car too.

This will help protect your car from rust formation. Similarly, see to it that all leaks within the car are plugged and no metal part is exposed to the rains, which might result in body rust.

Make sure your car wiper blades are not damaged or rusted, and all electrical parts are in good working condition. Electrical parts such as the car lights, air conditioning, horns and the circuitry connecting these parts to the source of power need to be covered because their exposure to rain water can cause serious damage, like the vehicle catching fire.

The tread pattern on car tyres is the most important thing that can keep you safe on roads during rains. A bald tyre is one of the most common causes of skidding and accidents.

So ensure that your car tyres are in good shape with enough tread depth.

Also, check if the brakes are in perfect working condition and the wheels are aligned. Failure on any of these fronts can lead to skidding.

If you are caught on flooded roads, find a safe place to park and avoid starting the vehicle. Wait for the water to recede and the car to dry before starting the ignition.

Despite taking all these precautions, mishaps do happen.

Therefore, while maintaining your car, as part of vehicle protection during monsoons, it is essential to have motor insurance in place too.

Check if the insurance policy is renewed and updated so that in the event of damage to the vehicle, your loss will be covered.

The writer is Executive Director, HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company