Snowfall, which accompanies us in the last few hours, makes it difficult to drive a car. It is very slippery on roads, and the weather forecasts for the coming days do not fill us with optimism.
Remember to adjust the speed of the car to the conditions on the road! It is the maladjustment of speed to the conditions prevailing on the road that is the reason for the formation of the largest number of serious traffic incidents.
Slippery road surface significantly extends the section on which the vehicle will stop. It is worth remembering that at a speed of 50km / h, the car travels about 14 meters within 1 second. The stopping distance at this speed on a dry surface is 26 meters, on a wet road 30 and on a slippery road 46 meters. However, at a speed of 90km / h within 1 second the car travels a distance of 25 meters. The stopping distance at this speed on a dry surface is 70 meters, wet on 90 meters and slippery 140 meters.
Faster collapsing darkness also adversely affects the comfort and safety of traveling and our psychophysics fitness. On an unlit road, drivers mainly see strong lights of vehicles approaching from the opposite direction and horizontal signs painted on the road.
The silhouettes of pedestrians and cyclists are noticed at the last moment, usually at a distance of 30-40 meters. In bad weather, visibility gets worse. If the pedestrian is equipped with a reflective vest and reflective tape reflecting the lights of the car, the driver will notice it already from a distance of 130 – 150 meters, which are about 5 times before! It can save a living life! Unprotected road users are often under the illusion that if they see an oncoming vehicle, then the driver sees them. This is a mistake, the consequences of which can be tragic.
All this speaks to the widespread use of reflective materials on the outer garments regardless of their age. Correctly worn reflections should be placed on the front and rear of the garment, in a way that allows them to be seen in the lights directing oncoming traffic from both directions. Every child traveling on the road should use the reflective elements, regardless of which part of the road is moving – the sidewalk, roadside or road.
The problem in the near future may be not only the aura or the technical condition of the car but also snow and ice lying on the body and panes. It happens that all windows are frosted, and the front is only cleared of snow, thanks to which the driver can see anything in front of him. Whatever, because his field of view is practically nil. The driver of such a vehicle is not able to see a pedestrian, even in full light, he does not see other vehicles well. Moves on feeling threatening all road users.
Often, when driving from such a car, pieces of ice or snowfall off, then fall on the vehicles behind it, causing damage to windows or forcing the drivers to brake hard. At higher speed, they can be a deadly threat. Police officers remind that in accordance with road traffic law, the vehicle participating in the traffic should be equipped and maintained so that the use of it does not jeopardize the safety of people driving it or other road users. It cannot violate the order of traffic on the road and expose anyone to damage. Using the vehicle in motion is also to provide a sufficient field of vision for the driver and easy, convenient and reliable handling of the steering, braking and signaling devices.
So let’s remember to take care of your own safety and other road users before you leave your car. Sometimes it takes just a few minutes to properly prepare the car for travel and ensure the same comfort and safety of driving, and even avoid tragedies on the road – police officers call.