This article is from page 30 of the 2010-01-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 30 JPG
THE Road Safety Authority (RSA) has renewed its warning for road us- ers to take extra care for the rest of the week as Met Eireann is advising that driving conditions will remain treacherous.
Severe frost is forecast and there is also the risk of ice on un-treated surfaces, along with the risk of some freezing fog.
Road users are urged to check weath- er and traffic reports before setting off on a journey. In particular,they should heed any garda advice urging them not to make any unnecessary journeys.
The RSA has the following advice for drivers in snow or icy conditions; elt takes longer to stop a vehicle on icy roads so slow down and allow extra distance between you and the vehicle in front. eManoeuvre gently, avoid harsh braking and acceleration. eClear your windows and mirrors before you set out, carry a screen scraper and de-icer. Do not use hot water on the windscreen as it can crack the glass. eRemove all snow from your vehicle before starting your journey. eSnow left on the roof will become loose and can drop onto the windscreen during braking, thereby causing sudden and severe restriction to your vision. eft can also fall off during your drive and cause injury to pedestrians or a reflex action by another driver. eUse the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin. eSelect a low gear when travelling downhill especially if through lore) OTOKSE *lo brake on ice or snow without
locking your wheels, get into a low gear earlier than normal, using the clutch smoothly and allow your speed to fall and use the brake pedal gently.
eRemember that heavy snowfall
will reduce visibility. Use dipped headlights and decrease speed smoothly.
eWatch out for black ice, especially in sheltered/shaded areas on roads, under trees and adjacent to high END Se
eCheck tyres, including spare wheel, to ensure minimum tread depth of
1.6mm and correct tyre pressure. eCheck your owner’s manual
and find out if your vehicle has
any safety assist technology like Electronic Stability Control (ESC) or Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) and know how they assist your eleaanntee
If your vehicle begins to skid you Should;
eldentify the cause — It is either too much braking, too much steering, too much acceleration or a combina- tion of one or all of these.
eRemove the cause — gently and
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elf your car has ABS, it will not skid under braking. If ABS is activated, keep your foot on the brake and steer around whatever caused you to ley eeN Coe
elf your car does not have ABS and starts to skid on the brakes, pump the brake pedal very fast (Cadence Braking) and steer around whatever caused you to brake.
elf your vehicle skids and slews side- ways – turn the steering wheel in the same direction as the skid and ease
off the accelerator at the same time. eAvoid over-correction with too much steering.
eBe ready for a secondary skid.
Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcy- clists are advised;
elf a journey cannot be avoided, be extremely careful as frost and ice have made walking on footpaths very dangerous
eVisibility is reduced in snowy condition so wear high visibility clothing or carry a torch and ensure the lights on your bike are working correctly.
eCyclists should ensure their bike has the required solid white light to the front and a red solid light to the rear.
eWear an approved helmet and consider clear eye protection. ¢Motorcyclists/cyclists should
not compromise their safety by their ‘need’ to travel in icy/snow conditions. Cancel your journey or take alternative transport. ¢eMotorcyclists should avoid wearing a dark visor in any bad light
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¢Remember other road users may not ‘expect’ you and could therefore comprise your safety
For more information the RSA’s publication Severe Weather Advice for Road Users can be downloaded from the RSA’s website www.rsa. ie/Home/upload/File/Homepage/ Severe _Weather_advice_road_us- ers_ET pdf _To check weather updates, visit Met Eireann’s website www.met.ie.