Slippery road conditions can occur at any time of the year, although the risk is greatest in the winter months. One of the most hazardous situations on the road is when a road user drives into slippery conditions without being prepared. When the temperature is below freezing point and there is heavy snow on the ground, most road users drive carefully as they are well aware that conditions are slippery. But if the temperature is around zero degrees, moisture on the road can freeze quickly without drivers noticing.

Winter Road Conditions

• Freezing rain: Freezing rain can lead to very difficult icy conditions, often referred to as black ice. The rain freezes instantly when it hits the cold road. If you are out driving, freezing rain can look like normal rain when it hits your warm windscreen. Be careful; if the temperature is under zero, then it’s no ordinary rain!
• Snow tracks: When there is snow on the roads, tracks of bare ground are quite often formed along the road. It can feel quite safe to drive quickly along these tracks as the bare ground offers relatively good traction; but be careful. If you happen to accidentally drive a little bit to the side, out onto the snow, then the traction will be considerably worse.
• Snow in the middle of the road: After the roads are ploughed, there is quite often a stretch of snow in the middle of the road. If you need to cross over this stretch of snow, make sure that you reduce your speed sufficiently as the risk of skidding is high.
• Polished snow: At times when there is snow on the road, there is a greater risk of slippery conditions at places where a lot of cars start and stop, such as junctions, for example. The snow is polished by the tyres and can become very slippery.

Spring and Autumn Road Conditions

• Temperature fluctuations: Sudden temperature fluctuations can be quite common during the spring months. The ground gets warmed up during the day, causing water to flow out onto the road, which then freezes again when the temperatures drop at night.
• Frost: The first frost can often come as a bit of a surprise in the autumn time. Be prepared for frost when the temperature begins to drop!
• Patches of ice: Patches of ice are common when the temperature falls to around zero degrees. The road can be quite dry at open spaces, where the sun is able to heat the surface. In dips and shadowy parts of the road, however, there may be patches of ice on the ground.
• Bridges and viaducts: The risk of slippery conditions is greater in the vicinity of bridges and viaducts. Cold air cools down the road surface both from above and below. The air will be humid around bridges that cross rivers or other bodies of water, which increases the risk of slippery conditions.

Summer Road Conditions

Road conditions tend to be best in the summer months, but poor conditions can still arise from time to time during this period.

When it starts to rain after a longer period of warm and dry weather, the risk of slipping is higher. The water breaks up dirt and oil residues, causing a slippery mud to form on the road. This mud gets rinsed away once it has been raining for a while.

During really hot summer days, newly paved roads can become so warm that tar seeps up to the surface and makes the road slippery.

Tips for driving in slippery conditions

Starting the car on slippery road conditions

When starting up your car on slippery road conditions, the wheels can easily begin to slip. If you are unable to start up in 1st gear, try starting up in 2nd gear. Wheels slip more easily on lower gears. If you are still unable to get started, reverse a little before trying again as this often helps the tyres get a better grip.

Speed

When driving at higher speeds, you are at a greater risk of getting yourself into a situation you are unable to deal with, no matter how skilled a driver you are. Always adapt your speed to the road conditions and keep in mind that road traction may be poor, even if it looks ok.

Braking – without ABS brakes

If your car does not have ABS brakes, the wheels will lock completely when braking forcefully and you will lose your ability to steer. If you need to move to avoid an obstacle, you will therefore need to release the brake and steer before then braking again.

Braking – with ABS brakes

If your car does have ABS brakes, you will be able to brake at full force and still steer at the same time as the wheels do not lock. The ABS system helps you to maintain good traction on the road, but there is still a risk of skidding.

Aquaplaning

When it is raining, water can collect on the road and the risk of aquaplaning can arise. Aquaplaning happens when a tyre is unable to disperse all the water lying underneath it. The car is lifted onto the surface of the water, planes, and it becomes impossible to steer.

Increased risk of aquaplaning:

• High speed: Aquaplaning can occur even at low speeds, but the risk increases when driving at high speeds.
• Wide tyres: If your tyres are wide, it will be more difficult for them to disperse water.
• Large quantities of water: The more water there is on the road, the greater the risk of aquaplaning. Deep furrows can form on worn tyres and these can collect lots of water.
• Poor tread depth: Good tread depth is important for dispersing water. The risk of aquaplaning is therefore greater if your tyres are worn and have poor tread depth.