Many people automatically think of winter when they think of slippery roads. The coldest season is therefore formidable because of its abundance of rain, ice and snow. But also in the summer you better watch out for flip flops. HLN science expert Martijn Peters explains why you should also remain vigilant behind the wheel, and how you can avoid an accident due to slippery road conditions.
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You are on your way by car, the sun is shining cheerfully on your face, but in the distance you can literally see the shower. And suddenly there he is. Bowls of rain suddenly fall from the sky. Your windshield wipers should swing back and forth at full power and you can barely see a few feet. It is during showers with such heavy rainfall that there is a chance of slippery conditions.
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During aquaplaning you completely lose control of your car, which creates a life-threatening situation.
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Aquaplaning
During heavy showers, a phenomenon called dynamic aquaplaning can occur. When more than 20 mm of rain falls per hour, a layer of water can form on ordinary asphalt roads. The risk is greatest on roads where rainwater cannot be drained quickly enough. For example, on a stretch of road that is lower than the rest of the landscape or that is damaged. But it also occurs when ruts are formed by heavy freight traffic or on roads where many trees are nearby. If a layer of water forms and you don’t adjust your speed as a driver, your car’s tires can lose their grip on the road. During aquaplaning you completely lose control of your car, which creates a life-threatening situation.
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Summer smoothness
But there is also a second less well-known form of aquaplaning, viscous aquaplaning. This is sometimes referred to as summer slipperiness and occurs during light rainfall or foggy weather after a long dry period. The culprit here is all the garbage on our roads. When we drive our cars on a road, tiny pieces of rubber rub off. In addition, some oil regularly leaks from a vehicle. And dust particles from the roadsides and nearby surroundings are continuously blown up into the road. When this mishmash of dirt is not removed for a long period of time, it all continues to accumulate and a dark brown layer of dirt forms on the road surface. When it starts to rain, the rainwater no longer carries the dirt away, but forms a dirty, slimy, sticky layer. One often speaks of ‘mayonnaise’. Although this is not about the sauce on our chips, but about the layer that provides treacherous slipperiness on our roads. Only a heavy rain shower can wash away the dirt, but then there is a chance of dynamic aquaplaning again.
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The slower you drive, the more water your tires can handle and the more space and time you have to get your car back under control if something goes wrong.
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Adjusted speed
The dangerous thing about aquaplaning in the summer is that we often don’t expect it and are completely surprised by it. Therefore, reduce your speed in heavy rainfall or in light rain after a long drought. The slower you drive, the more water your tires can handle and the more space and time you have to get your car back under control if something goes wrong. And taking a slip course never hurts.
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