Sitting in Oudtshoorn in sunny South Africa with warm 39C degrees outside, I could not resist sharing a photo received from abroad. The above photo was sent to the Arrive Alive website with the caption “Thousands protest global warming”.
Without taking anything away from the importance of the efforts to curb global warming, this also reminded me of the importance of road safety and the need to drive safely in the bitter cold weather. The Arrive Alive website offers us some safety guidelines to road users in the bitter cold of the Northern Hemisphere:
• Start Gently and Slowly.
When first starting, get the feel of the road. Don’t hurry.
• Adjust Turning and Braking to Conditions.
Make turns as gentle as possible. Don’t brake any harder than necessary.
• Adjust Speed to Conditions.
Don’t pass slower vehicles unless necessary. Go slow and watch far enough ahead to keep a steady speed. Avoid having to slow down and speed up. Take curves at slower speeds and don’t brake while in curves. Be aware that as the temperature rises to the point where ice begins to melt, the road becomes even more slippery. Slow down more.
• Adjust Space to Conditions.
Don’t drive alongside other vehicles. Keep a longer following distance. When you see a traffic jam ahead, slow down or stop to wait for it to clear. Try hard to anticipate stops early and slow down gradually.
• Be careful of Wet Brakes.
When driving in heavy rain or deep standing water, your brakes will get wet. Water in the brakes can cause the brakes to be weak, to apply unevenly, or to grab. This can cause lack of braking power, wheel lockups, pulling to one side or the other, and jack-knife if you pull a trailer.
• Avoid driving through deep puddles or flowing water if possible.
Few the Arrive Alive website for more information on the topic: