Drivers Warned to Consider Conditions

As the UK looks forward to getting out and about again after two years of pandemic restrictions, the addition of a royal jubilee would seem to be the perfect time to get out and about. Not only that, but weather forecasters are predicting that the transition from spring to summer 2022 will see the British climate resembling that of southern Europe, and even Turkey. For motorists, however, there are warnings that these expected hot summer conditions also come with the risk of sudden, heavy downpours. For a number of reasons, drivers could be caught out breaking the law, or possibly worse, if they do not heed both the highway code and some rather obscure legislation.

Unusual Conditions

It is likely that millions of UK citizens will hit the road over 2022’s extended spring bank holiday weekend, starting on Thursday 2^nd June and lasting until Sunday 5^th. With an extra day added to celebrate HM Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 year reign, a number of street parties and national events are also sure to attract people to outdoor events. If forecasters’ predictions are true, these events could be topped off by some extremely hot and sunny weather. With air being drawn from the far south of the European continent and even north Africa, the UK as a whole could be set to “bask” in decidedly un-British weather. As is normal, most of this activity will involve people driving cars to reach their destinations.

It is the mixture of high traffic volumes and very hot weather conditions which has led to motoring experts issuing cautious statements about its likely outcome. The fact is that thousands of British motorists will be driving in conditions they’re not used to, which may well cost them money, license points and, possibly, criminal records. As with anything to do with road safety, the very worst of outcomes involve injury on a scale which needs no explanation. At the very least, however, motorists would be well advised to carry out the basic checks that would avoid an automatic MOT test fail.

Surface Issues

One leading source of caution is an organization whose business is roads. The Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA) takes care of the very thing that people drive on, yet who know very little about. Modern roads have several layers, but the one that actually experiences contact with every vehicle is made of asphalt. This is a product of the oil industry, and usually works perfectly well in coping with the phenomenal demands of the British driving public. Being a result of the hydrocarbon refining process, however, the way asphalt behaves can change in certain situations; one of these is extreme heat.

With road surfaces covering extremely large areas, and being heat absorbent due to their dark colouring, it is understandable that they expand. While this does not mean “melting” as such, what does happen is a process called bleeding. In this, oily secretions from within the asphalt find their way to the surface of the road, without compromising its actual structure. This thin film of oil inevitably makes for a slipper surface; when mixed with rubber and oil from tyres and moving parts, the layer gets more slippery. Add to this a sudden downpour, and suddenly a major road can become very hazardous.

Driver Responsibility

It is at all times the responsibility of a vehicle user to ensure its safety. This feeds into the MOT test, which detects any issue that would lead to a possible lack of control; including something as basic as a worn or badly inflated tyre. In terms of the highway code, however, behaviour is at a premium; even if there are physical reasons why driving may be difficult. For example, intense sunlight leads to windscreen glare. Not being able to see properly through such a screen is an offence, as the driver cannot possibly have proper control of their vehicle.

Hopefully, no incidents will occur while driving behind windscreen glare. Even if they don’t, however, drivers can still be pulled over, and face the prospect of a £1,000, on the spot fine. Driving too fast for conditions on a slippery road is also dangerous, and can happen in seconds of a cloudburst. Even driving through a roadside puddle too fast and splashing pedestrians unnecessarily is against the law. Although enforcing such a rule is problematic to say the least, the fact is that motorists should be aware of the conditions in which they drive, especially if those conditions are unusual.

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