Drivers warned to take care on slippery roads

Mondial Assistance UK, a leading provider of roadside assistance, is warning drivers of the dangers they could face driving on slippery wet roads after today’s heavy rainfall. Following the recent long dry spell, which was so unusual for a UK summer compared to recent years, roads could prove dangerous and much more slippery than drivers expect.

Lee Taylor, Automotive Sales Director at Mondial Assistance UK explains, “Drivers often underestimate how dangerous the road conditions become when we’ve had a heavy downpour straight after a particularly sunny couple of weeks or months. Greasy substances, such as lubricants and general debris including tyre rubber and evaporated fuel deposits accumulate until the rain washes it away. But of course it takes a first heavy rain fall such as the one we have seen in the UK today, to loosen the build-up of grime from the tarmac which in turn creates a very slippery surface. This can dramatically impact people’s ability to drive and also affects braking distances and vehicle handling, leading to a much higher risk of accidents.

“Before setting off in the car, however short the journey, drivers should check their tyresas well as all lights, to ensure they can see, be seen and stop as safely as possible. The condition of the tyres is extremely important, and they should be checked for correct pressure and legal tread depth. The greater the depth, the more efficient the tyre is in wet weather. Worn tyres are dangerous as the car loses its grip on the road. Check for any signs of damage to tyre walls or wheel rims which can be caused by wear and tear as tyres hit kerbs and large stones.”

Mondial Assistance offers advice for wet weather driving

Check your tyresare in good condition and inflated to the correct pressure.

Replace worn-out windscreen wipers.

Be sure your lights and brakes are in good working order.

Drive slowly and signal early!  Stopping distances are longer and visibility can be impaired when it’s wet.

Drive in the tracks of the car ahead of you but ensure you keep a longer distance in front to compensate for longer stopping distances.

Avoid using excessive or heavy braking as much as possible, instead slow down by easing off the accelerator where appropriate.

Try to avoid routes liable to flooding and excessive ‘water-pooling’, even major routes are not immune from these hazards