Wet road are dangerous as major accidents might happen when driving on them or slick roadways. It has nothing to do with experience as even the best drivers can get into an accident if he is not aware of the impending risk; so they must be made aware of the road conditions or the many risks of driving on a wet road; this is where the “Slippery When Wet Road Sign” comes in.
The Slippery When Wet Road Sign is used to warn drivers that the road ahead can become slippery in wet or cold weather. So this road sign is put on certain roads or parts of a highway where the surface is incredibly slippery.
Slippery When Wet Road Sign Architecture
The slippery road sign is a warning sign.
What Makes Slippery Roads Dangerous
According to data from the Federal Highway Administration, 900,000 accidents occur on slick or wet roadways annually. Almost 600,000 accidents occur on the highways during rainy seasons.
Even worse, every year over 4,500 people are killed and over 350,000 are injured in accidents on wet roads. It becomes more difficult to stop in time to prevent a serious accident on wet roads.
Rain makes it more difficult for drivers to see properly, which makes it more difficult for them to drive safely. Moreover, snowfall and slick roadways are important variables.
Your tires are more likely to slip on damp roadways. The ground becomes slick when there is less friction. This significantly increases the difficulty of properly stopping your car. Whenever it’s raining, pay heed to slippery road signs, even in pleasant weather. This will help you steer clear of potentially dangerous circumstances.
Dangers of Slippery Roads
Bridges can ice and thaw more slowly than other locations in cold weather, which makes driving on them particularly risky. Under the sign indicating that the road is hazardous when wet, there can be further signs. They explain why certain areas of the bridge or road are slicker than others.
These supplementary signs alert and educate drivers about additional hazards. Words like “EXCESS OIL,” “STEEL DECK,” and “ICE” warn you that driving may be challenging. Take a look at this additional information to see why the roads are slick and drive cautiously.
If you see a sign for a slippery road and you’re driving in hazardous circumstances, slow down. Take your foot off the gas pedal to slow down. In the event that you apply forceful brakes or make a sudden turn, your automobile may slide dangerously.
How To Drive Safely On Slippery Roads
If you find yourself on a slipper road, here are tips you can adopt to drive safely;
- Drive slowly
- Do not change direction abruptly
- Reduce your speed
- Increase your following distance
- Drive with caution
- Make turns at a very slow speed
- Do not brake hard
READ: Road Signs Test & Sample Questions For Preparation
Other tips you could adopt are:
- Make sure your automobile is prepared for winter travel, including the tires and brakes. Recognize the signs warning of slick roads on the sides of the route.
- Examine the wear on your tires. Is the tread depth at least 2/32 of an inch still present? This may be seen simply by inserting a coin head first into the tread groove.
- To improve your vision, make sure your windows are clean. acquire new wipers for your shattered windshield and acquire wiper blades that are suitable for wintertime driving in the rain.
- Another smart move is to plan your journey. To find out how the roads will be for your travel, check the news. If an accident occurs at a certain location, you have time to prevent it.
- Drive on snowy roads whenever possible to become more familiar with how your brakes feel and to gauge how quickly your car might stop completely.
- Find out whether the system that prevents the brakes from locking up on your automobile is an ABS. If you maintain your brakes engaged, you can stop if it occurs. If your automobile does not have antilock brakes (ABS), you may still prevent it from running off the road or colliding with other cars by depressing the brake pedal slightly rather than fully.
- Check for slippery road signs and remember to switch on your signal earlier than usual if the road is wet or slick. This will give other vehicles more time to slow down and prevent collisions by alerting them to your turn earlier than anticipated.
- In the winter, if you intend to drive at night, be very cautious and on the lookout for black ice. There might be a tragic accident if you don’t slow down before crossing this ice and pay attention.
