Transportation Tuesday

TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTATION TUESDAYTUESDAY

Driving safely means Driving safely means adjusting to road and adjusting to road and traffic conditions.traffic conditions.

When you can’t control When you can’t control the conditions, you must the conditions, you must control your vehicle.control your vehicle.

Transportation Tuesday

How slow? •At least 10 mph for rain •About half normal speed on packed snow•Slow to a crawl on ice - this is the most dangerous

surface and sudden actions will quickly make you skid

SNOW & ICE

REMEMBER•on corners or bends - you will skid more easily•brake progressively on the straight part so that your

vehicle is slow enough to take the bend safely•steer gently round the corner - avoid sudden

movements•find a safe place on the straight to gently test your

brakes•if the steering is unresponsive then you are probably on

ice

Slow down at the first sign of rain, snow or sleet.

ice or snow? • tyres on ice make virtually no noise• tyres on snow make a crunchy or slushy

sound

Transportation Tuesday

SAND, GRAVEL, DIRT TRACKSYou do not have as much grip on sand, gravel or

dirt as you do on asphalt (black top) roads

•slow your vehicle•stay back from other vehicles - beware of

• dust clouds that hide what is in front and at the side of you

• stones flying from other vehicle’s tyres

•give yourself extra space and time for overtaking•accelerate and brake gently

if you lose control and leave the road …•brake gently to slow the vehicle gradually•do not try to steer back onto the road - this may cause

you to flip over - keep in a straight line if you can•allow the vehicle to come to a complete stop before

attempting to rejoin the road•beware of ruts that will take control of your tyres

Transportation Tuesday

WATERYour vehicle can take as much as twice as long to stop on a wet road as compared to a dry road

stay back so that you can

– see and plan ahead– avoid spray from other

vehicles– stop in timeHydroplaning … when your tyres lose contact with the road

most tyres have good traction up to about 35 mph when you go faster, your tyres ride up in the water (like waterski-ing) in heavy rain your tyres may lose contact with the road at 50mph worn tyres will lose traction at much slower speeds

Recover from hydroplaning … ease your foot off the gas pedal … you will feel the tyres gripping again keep the steering wheel straight … only try to turn if it’s an emergency if you must turn, do it SLOWLY or you will SKID do not try to stop or turn until your tyres are gripping to road again

If you have driven through deep water - find a safe place to check your brakes. Gently applying pressure for a while will help dry out brakes that are wet.

Transportation Tuesday

in all bad weather conditions

• stay well back from all other vehicles - if someone cuts into the space, fall back to keep a safe distance

• keep your windscreen clear• think twice before overtaking - you don’t know what

the conditions ahead are• put your headlights on dipped • do not put on your hazard lights unless you are in

an accident• make sure your tyres are in good condition and at

the correct pressure• make sure someone knows your route and when

you expect to arrive - and what to do if you miss your deadline

Transportation Tuesday