And you thought dry roads were safe...

Xaccers · 22-02-2005, 05:47

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programme..._4/4278419.stm

Quote:

Sergeant Jim Allen said he experienced grave difficulties when conducting routine skid tests in optimum conditions on a Derbyshire road newly laid with SMA.

"It was a sunny day in August. I jumped on the brakes and the car just kept going and going.

"Instead of the scream of tyre on road and a cloud of smoke there was just a gentle hiss as I passed over the road, and I skidded far further than I ever expected to."

Looks like our motorways are being surfaced with a substance which in the dry doesn't give enough friction.
Good job it rains here so much, and at least you won't disturb the nearby residents as you merrily skid to your death.

Pierre · 22-02-2005, 08:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xaccers

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programme..._4/4278419.stm

Looks like our motorways are being surfaced with a substance which in the dry doesn't give enough friction.
Good job it rains here so much, and at least you won't disturb the nearby residents as you merrily skid to your death.

Great another reason to lower speed limits and put up cameras

Richard M · 22-02-2005, 08:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pierre

Great another reason to lower speed limits...

Makes sense to me, I can't stand it when drivers forget how much extra stopping distance is required on a wet/slippery road.

Xaccers · 22-02-2005, 08:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard M

Makes sense to me, I can't stand it when drivers forget how much extra stopping distance is required on a wet/slippery road.

Thing is, this road surface performs fine in the wet, it's in the dry that it loses grip!

So on a nice summer day, you could be leaving more than the recommended distance between you and the guy in front.
He stops suddenly, you hit the brakes and slide straight up the back of him. Your driving didn't let you down, your brakes didn't let you down, your tyres didn't let you down, the road is the thing that let you down.

**Paul M** · 22-02-2005, 08:45

Erm, did you just say it makes sense to make roads slippier and then lower the speed limit

Richard M · 22-02-2005, 08:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul M

Erm, did you just say it makes sense to make roads slippier and then lower the speed limit

No, I said it makes sense to lower the speed limit on roads like this, at least temporarily until the surface gets better traction.

**Paul M** · 22-02-2005, 09:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard M

No, I said it makes sense to lower the speed limit on roads like this, at least temporarily until the surface gets better traction.

Ah good, I didn't think i could be reading it right.

Xaccers · 22-02-2005, 09:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard M

No, I said it makes sense to lower the speed limit on roads like this, at least temporarily until the surface gets better traction.

In Eire they've restricted the use of this surface to 30mph roads for safety.
Would you like 30mph motorways, because that's where our goverment's been using it, scary eh?

joker · 22-02-2005, 09:42

I would say lowering the speed would help dramatically on this type of surface.

But perhaps the driver should try to make more of a controlled stop instead of just jamming the breaks fully on.

Xaccers · 22-02-2005, 09:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by joker

I would say lowering the speed would help dramatically on this type of surface.

But perhaps the driver should try to make more of a controlled stop instead of just jamming the breaks fully on.

The thing is, you pootle along thinking "it's a dry road, brand new tarmac" go to use your brakes and you slide like you're on ice.
Now braking on ice is one thing, you know you're on ice, you know you need to brake gently and can prepare for sliding.
But breaking on a road you expect to be able to stop normally on and finding your car react like it's on ice is enough to freak many people out.
And if Eire reckons over 30mph is dangerous on this surface, why is our goverment using it on our motorways?

joker · 22-02-2005, 10:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xaccers

The thing is, you pootle along thinking "it's a dry road, brand new tarmac" go to use your brakes and you slide like you're on ice.
Now braking on ice is one thing, you know you're on ice, you know you need to brake gently and can prepare for sliding.
But breaking on a road you expect to be able to stop normally on and finding your car react like it's on ice is enough to freak many people out.
And if Eire reckons over 30mph is dangerous on this surface, why is our goverment using it on our motorways?

Perhaps its an attempt to try and put people off using the motoways?

22-02-2005, 16:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xaccers

Quote:

"Instead of the scream of tyre on road and a cloud of smoke there was just a gentle hiss as I passed over the road, and I skidded far further than I ever expected to."

Well if he *had* got "a scream of tyres and a cloud of smoke" not only would he have travelled further than he should have, he would also have failed his driving test because he locked the wheels!

AndrewJ · 22-02-2005, 17:26

Love to know which road, was in a boss of a mates Merc earlier today and he had to jump on brakes for a van driver pulling out at 70mph down a derestricted zone, it certainly stopped..aint felt such braking power ever.

Chimaera · 22-02-2005, 17:37

I think as usual it all comes down to cost - these SMA surfaces are quite cheap to use compared to other surfaces. But local authorities might be wise to consider how much the cost will be once road crash victims take them to court for negligence, if it's proved that this type of road surface played a part in any crash.

AndrewJ · 22-02-2005, 17:44

Seriously though anyone wanting a safe car esp with top notch brakes buy a Merc, my chest still hurts from it stopping so hard.