What is the greatest risk to your safety when overtaking on a motorway in very wet weather?

• A. Your tyres may lose grip
• B. Your engine may get flooded
• C. Your braking distance may be reduced
• D. Your steering may become heavy

Answer: (A)

In very wet weather, the main safety risk during overtaking is that your tyres may lose grip on the road. Water reduces the friction between tyre and surface, and a thin film of water can cause aquaplaning, where the tyre rides on top of the water rather than the road. When grip is lost, you can’t steer or brake reliably, which is particularly dangerous during overtaking when you need precise control to move out, estimate speed, and return to your lane safely.

Engine flooding is not a typical motorway risk from rain, and braking distances actually increase on wet roads, not decrease. Steering might feel heavier if grip is already compromised, but the fundamental danger is the loss of traction that makes any steering or speed changes unpredictable.