Many cars are equipped with an ambient air temperature indicator, but their sensor is located a few decimeters above the ground. So at cautious temperatures approaching zero and wet weather, or riding on a damp surface, rather careful. The danger is from dusk to dawn, but also in the daytime in places with all-day shadow .
From the ninety-nine we will stop at 70 meters, on ice up to a quarter mile
An ice-covered road can easily change into a smooth ice rink. Tire adhesion to the surface decreases to a minimum. The braking distance is prolonged accordingly. For example, if we stop at 70 on a dry road and wet at less than 90 meters, we will need almost a quarter of a mile on ice. In risk areas, therefore, it is worthwhile to reduce the speed of driving, maximize focus on driving, anticipate. "Start the deceleration well in advance and control the pedal with feel. Caution is also in place when cornering. Not only for the length of the braking distance but also for the centrifugal force when traveling by arc, increases with a quadratic dependence on speed, " warns Roman Budský from the Road Safety Team. So if the driver, instead of forty-eight, comes out of the bend, he will push him not twice, but four times the force. The best riding tactic is enough to slow down even on a straight line, turning the curve, if its shape just allows, with a constantly turned wheel. Any violent maneuvers with the steering wheel may be misleading.
Black Ice - An invisible frost that can be unpleasant to surprise
If we know we are going after the cold, we usually move with sufficient caution. Very dangerous but it is a local ice that we do not count on. In the current weather, we can unexpectedly hit a stretch where it is frozen after a long ride on a wet or even dry surface. Frost and near-freezing temperatures can create an ice sheet on sub-cooled roadways on bridges. It may be treacherous to ride in the autumn, when on the sun-lit stretches, night frost is enough to thaw, but it remains in the shadows throughout the day. These are northern slopes, forest sections and the like. "And watch frost is often not seen. It can be a thin transparent film, a glaze covering a dark asphalt. This phenomenon is called black ice. It is invisible, interchangeable with the wet surface of the road, which is very dangerous, " warns Roman Budsky.
On frosty roads more than ever, we must take care of a sufficient distance from the front of the vehicles. Generally, it should correspond to a section traveled within two seconds of driving. On the icy surface, it's worthwhile to add another one second . The risk of unpredictable behavior in front of us driving a driver is higher. Insight is also worthwhile on motorways. The black ice layer is behind a heavy chain crash. The difference between the wet and ice braking tracks is stunning at 130 km / h. From less than 170 meters it can easily be half a kilometer.
When skidding, keep the cool head
Mainly not panic. The car either reluctantly turns and tries to leave the road tangentially (it is called "understeer") or, on the contrary, turns too much, the rear of the vehicle is trying to overtake us (so-called overturning). In the first case, it's worthwhile to spin the steering wheel a bit more gently. Do not accelerate or crack. If we move slowly enough, the front wheels will catch and we will walk through the arch. In the second case, on the other hand, we reduce the turning of the wheels to turn so that the rear of the car can be level. Again, you need to do fine. Otherwise, the rear of the car bows to the other side. Only a really experienced chauffeur will be able to deal with this situation. "Perhaps even a warning for modern car drivers equipped with modern stabilization systems. They will help, but they are not omnipotent. Their efficiency derives from the adhesion of the wheels to the surface of the road, " concludes Roman Budský.
Source: tz Road Safety Team