Restrict your speed
Drivers are urged to slow down on their essential journeys in slippery conditions
MOTORISTS are being warned to slow down in treacherous weather on their essential journeys during the latest coronavirus lockdown.
The alert from road safety charity Brake and breakdown provider Green Flag follows new data highlighting the extent of dangerous driving in wet and very cold conditions.
Evidence from Covid travel restrictions last spring and summer showed fewer vehicles out and about led many people to increase their speeds.
Both organisations now fear severe weather that’s forecast coupled with a temptation for drivers to put the foot down on open roads could end in disaster.
A survey of 2000 UK drivers found that a third admitted to not driving slower in challenging weather.
Concerningly, nearly a third said they had exceeded the speed limit in the wet across all road types – urban, rural and motorway.
And a shocking seven per cent even stated that they tended to increase their speed in slippery conditions compared with travelling on dry road surfaces.
The findings also indicated younger motorists acted more dangerously in tricky situations than their older counterparts but that unsafe driving behaviour was prevalent across all age groups.
More than half of 18 to 24-year-olds admitted to not slowing down in the wet, compared with almost a quarter of those 45 and over.
Nearly half of the younger age group also said they had driven over the speed limit in the wet, on all road types, as against almost a quarter of those aged 45-plus.
In 2019, an average of four deaths and serious injuries a day (1292 in total) were partially caused by a “slippery road (due to weather)”, according to police officers investigating the accidents.
Brake and Green Flag’s research found that more than two-thirds of drivers underestimated stopping distances in the wet.
The Highway Code states stopping distances in wet weather will be at least double those required for halting on dry roads, due to the lack of tyre grip, and 10 times greater on icy surfaces.
Yet just over a quarter of those surveyed opted for the correct answer. Four in 10 thought stopping distances on wet roads were about 50 per cent further than in dry conditions and a 10th thought the safe braking distances remained the same.
Brake campaigns boss Joshua Harris said: “With bad weather forecast across the UK and concerning reports of increased speeding during previous lockdowns, drivers must remember that slippery roads require slower driving.
“Stopping distances more than double in the wet and yet many drivers remain unaware of this vital fact that could help prevent a serious collision.
“We urge everyone to slow down when the road is wet and to keep well back from the vehicle in front as rain and spray can make it difficult to see and be seen.”
Green Flag commercial chief Mark Newberry added: “Poor weather makes for more difficult driving conditions that should not be underestimated. Additional surface water can result in aquaplaning that, combined with bad visibility, can make driving extremely dangerous.
“Taking extra care and adapting to wet and icy weather by reducing speed and increasing braking distances can give drivers extra seconds to react and has the potential to prevent a nasty accident.
“Headlights are also crucial to help boost visibility not only for drivers to see better themselves but be seen by others, too.
“To prepare for your journey, check the weather forecast before setting off – pack a coat, umbrella and ensure mobile phones are fully charged, look out for each other and stay safe.”