People are only just realising which cars have a life-saving hidden feature – and it’s usually free

DRIVERS are only just realising which cars have a life-saving hidden feature.

Heavy rainfall can cause treacherous driving conditions and increase braking distances.

GettyA motorist travels in wet conditions (stock image)[/caption]

But auto-drying brakes have been introduced on a number of car models to help improve safety.

Wet brakes can reduce performance and increase the risk to the safety of a driver during a downpour.

But automatic brake drying works when a vehicle’s windshield wiper rain sensor detects moisture on a windscreen.

When detected, the car’s brake pads move closer to its rotors, which in turn removes excess moisture between the two surfaces.

This results in dry brakes and, as a result, superior braking performance on a wet road.

The relatively new feature is predmoninantly available from German car manufacturers.

All new BMWs feature the advance braking system.

Mercedes-Benz says all its cars have adaptive brake systems, which include brake drying, while the Volkswagen Passat also has it.

The feature automatically kicks in on Audis once they reach 43mph, too.

A number of new cars now also come with Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB).

This is when cars will monitor and detect traffic to warn of an upcoming danger such as a suddenly slowing vehicle.

If the driver does not react in time, the brakes will automatically apply, making the roads a safer place.

It comes as a YouTuber has also revealed a little known braking trick.

In the video, the narrator also told drivers to dry their brakes once they went through a puddle.

GettyWet weather can increase stopping distances[/caption]   

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