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Road Safety Weather Alert - Winds & Heavy Rainfall
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has received a Weather Warning from Met Éireann today Wednesday 18th November 2009 advising of further very wet and windy weather on Wednesday night and through Thursday with widespread rain and strong southerly winds.
Rainfall totals of 20 to 40mm in many areas, with falls of 50 or 60mm likely in parts of the southwest and west with some severe flooding likely. Southerly winds gusting 80 to 110km/h are forecast in some exposed places .
The RSA is warning road users to be extra alert and have issued the following advice:
When driving in wet and windy conditions drivers are reminded that;
• It takes longer to stop a vehicle on wet roads so slow down and allow extra distance between you and the vehicle in front.
• Watch out for falling/fallen debris on the road and vehicles veering across the road
• Control of a vehicle may be affected by strong cross winds. High sided vehicles and motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to strong winds
• Take special care when driving behind goods vehicles as they generate a considerable amount of spray which reduces your visibility
• Allow extra space between you and vulnerable road users such as cyclists and motorcyclists
• Drive with dipped headlights at all times
• Be aware of the danger of aquaplaning especially on roads with 100 km/h and 120 km/h roads.
• Check tyres to ensure minimum tread depth of 1.6mm and correct tyre pressure
• After going through water, drive slowly with your foot on the brake pedal for a short distance - this helps to dry the brakes.
• Monitor radio weather broadcasts while travelling
Advice to Pedestrians & Cyclists;
• Be seen. Wear bright clothing with reflective armbands or a reflective belt
• Walk on a footpath, not in the street. Walk on the right hand side of the road, facing traffic if there are no footpaths
• Take extra care when near traffic or crossing the road in extremely windy conditions as a sudden gust of wind could blow you into the path of an oncoming vehicle.
With added risks posed by wet or flooded roads the RSA has the following advice;
• Sometimes roads can be closed due to their fragile state after wet weather or because they are blocked by flooding. Road users should always follow recommended routes and obey signs closing roads to traffic
• Watch out for washed out roads, earth slides, broken water or sewer mains, loose or downed electrical wires, and fallen or falling objects
• Be aware where rivers or streams may suddenly rise and flood, for example highway dips, bridge, and low areas
• If the road ahead is flooded choose another route, do not attempt to drive over it. Flooded roads that appear shallow could be deeper than you think. It is easy to underestimate the power of fast moving water
• If you are inside a vehicle and water is rising rapidly around you, abandon the vehicle immediately
• If you have to leave your vehicle, be wary of strong currents and debris.
For more information the RSA’s publication ‘Severe Weather Advice for Road Users’ can be downloaded from the RSA’s website http://www.rsa.ie/publication/publication/upload/SevereWeatheradviceforroadusers.pdf
To check weather updates visit Met Eireann’s website www.met.ie.
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Communications Department, Road Safety Authority Tel. (096) 25008
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