What sort of driving should you avoid in these road conditions?
Show the correct answer
Correct answer
A. Driving at a high speed.
Explanation
In the photo you are driving on a dual carriageway in heavy rain; the car in front of you is throwing up fountains of water from under its wheels, and the roadway is flooded. In such conditions, you should avoid driving at high speed - answer A. Keeping a steady, low speed (B) and engine braking (C) are actually recommended on a wet road.
The Road Traffic Act requires you to drive at a speed that allows you to keep control of the vehicle, taking into account the weather conditions and the state of the road. On a layer of water, tyres lose grip - at high speed aquaplaning occurs, the car floats on the water and stops responding to the steering wheel. The braking distance on wet asphalt can be up to twice as long as on dry asphalt, and the spray from cars in front of you reduces visibility. You slow down, increase your distance, brake and turn gently, and if the wipers cannot keep up, you switch on dipped headlights and look for a place to wait until the worst of the downpour is over.
Legal basis: Art. 19 para. 1 of the Road Traffic Act (Prawo o ruchu drogowym)