Thursday 19th August 2004

Govt Warn of Wet Roads

Keep it shiny side up says bloke from Highways Agency

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With heavy rain and strong winds forecast for many parts of the country over the next few days, the Highways Agency urges drivers to take extra care on the roads.

Drivers, especially of high-sided vehicles, are advised to take extra care during the very windy conditions forecast by the Met Office. The Agency is working with the police to ensure that disruption from accidents and incidents is minimised and traffic kept moving.

The Agency, which manages, operates and improves motorways and all-purpose trunk roads in England, offers the following advice to drivers:

• Heavy rain and spray are likely to lead to reduced visibility. Drivers should slow down and keep well back from the vehicle travelling in front because it takes longer to slow down and stop in wet weather.
• After driving through floods, test your brakes before you continue driving at higher speed.
• Drivers of high-sided vehicles or towing caravans should take extra care when strong winds are forecast.
• Drivers are advised to check the latest information on weather and road conditions before they set off, and during their journey.

Links

• www.metoffice.com
• www.highways.gov.uk

[RichardR]

They forgot to tell people to turn their lights on when it gets dark and to turn the steering wheel when negotiating a corner.

[dougc]

It might seem obvious to us to change driving habits according to conditions but there are hoards of numpties who need to have this sort of stuff tatooed to the inside of their eyelids - and they'd still take no notice.

[cmsapms]

.....and the winner of the "No shit Sherlock" award for stating the bleedin' obvious goes to......

[shadowninja]

RichardR said:

They forgot to tell people to turn their lights on when it gets dark and to turn the steering wheel when negotiating a corner.

i prefer to use the throttle to negotiate a corner

[count duckula]

apprantly it has somthing to do with rain, not sure of the connection yet


Malc

[flooritforever]

Hmmm....so apparently there are people out there who don't know this, and these people have driving licences?



Anyone else think that anyone who has a driving licence and doesn't know these thing should have it taken away?

[kenmorton]

Well you might have to take away the driving licences of everone in Germany. Recently drove on one two lane autobahn on a Sunday evening in the rain - we were in the inside lane in a solid line of traffic (trying to keep a reasonable gap to the car in front) at 100+ mph and the outside lane must have been doing in excess of 120 mph !
Bloody scarry.

[britten_mark]

All I can say is we'd be in a right old state without Her majesty's government. gawd bless 'em.

[Anthony c]

Hang on, they say 'The Agency, which 'manages', operates and 'improves' motorways and all-purpose trunk roads '
I've not seen any evidence of them managing or improving anything, unless you include the share price of cone makers.

[Peter Ward]

Anthony c said:

Hang on, they say 'The Agency, which 'manages', operates and 'improves' motorways and all-purpose trunk roads ' I've not seen any evidence of them managing or improving anything, unless you include the share price of cone makers.

Talking of which, what's an "all-purpose trunk road"? What else can you use it for, apart from as a road?

[ian8542]

Anthony c said:

Hang on, they say 'The Agency, which 'manages', operates and 'improves' motorways and all-purpose trunk roads ' I've not seen any evidence of them managing or improving anything, unless you include the share price of cone makers.

Exactly, and you can be sure that the flooded roads are the result of blocked drains.
How many blocked drains do you spot on a regular basis? Some near me, even on major A roads have grass growing out of them!