Driving on very wet motorways
Discussion
Was pondering this issue a few days ago whilst driving round the m25 in extremely wet conditions (standing water in places, low visibility etc)
Surprisingly, the vast majority of drivers lowered their speed to around 40-50MPH, and sat in the inner two lanes. However, I'd say 80-90% of the cars in those lanes were far too close together: they'd have had no chance of stopping if the car in front had slammed on the brakes.
I tried sitting in the inside lane and keeping a safe gap, but I was either tailgated, or people pulled into the gap, often both at the same time!
After a while, I decided to move into the outside lane. If I'd have continued doing 40-50MPH, I'd have been caught up fairly quickly, and would have had to move back into the inside/middle lanes, or risked being tailgated by the person behind.
However, I found that if I stuck to 65-70MPH, which was probably too fast for the conditions, I was very rarely caught up, and I could see far enough ahead to be able to stop if necessary. I hit several patches of standing water at that speed, and as I was holding the wheel properly, didn't feel like I was going to lose control.
So what would you do in this situation? Was what I did very dangerous or would you have done the same? Interested to hear opinions
Surprisingly, the vast majority of drivers lowered their speed to around 40-50MPH, and sat in the inner two lanes. However, I'd say 80-90% of the cars in those lanes were far too close together: they'd have had no chance of stopping if the car in front had slammed on the brakes.
I tried sitting in the inside lane and keeping a safe gap, but I was either tailgated, or people pulled into the gap, often both at the same time!
After a while, I decided to move into the outside lane. If I'd have continued doing 40-50MPH, I'd have been caught up fairly quickly, and would have had to move back into the inside/middle lanes, or risked being tailgated by the person behind.
However, I found that if I stuck to 65-70MPH, which was probably too fast for the conditions, I was very rarely caught up, and I could see far enough ahead to be able to stop if necessary. I hit several patches of standing water at that speed, and as I was holding the wheel properly, didn't feel like I was going to lose control.
So what would you do in this situation? Was what I did very dangerous or would you have done the same? Interested to hear opinions
I often find that, in such conditions, people flock into L1 and 2 "for safety" - then as you've observed, proceed to drive far too close together. Never ceases to amaze me.
I often head into L3 then, on the grounds that it's empty so I have a nice big space in front. It often looks like the safer bet, even if it means going a bit faster. I'll take faster with lots space, over slower and being closely surrounded by cars.
I often head into L3 then, on the grounds that it's empty so I have a nice big space in front. It often looks like the safer bet, even if it means going a bit faster. I'll take faster with lots space, over slower and being closely surrounded by cars.
R0G said:
Best place is a safe distance behind a truck because nobody else seems to want that space
Hmmm...but what you really don't want is to hit up the arse by the truck behind you if the one in front stops. If all the cars concertina together even at medium speed you'll probably be OK - you won't be if an HGV rams you.
Deva Link said:
R0G said:
Best place is a safe distance behind a truck because nobody else seems to want that space
Hmmm...but what you really don't want is to hit up the arse by the truck behind you if the one in front stops. If all the cars concertina together even at medium speed you'll probably be OK - you won't be if an HGV rams you.
R0G said:
Then if a truck or any other gets too close behind simply increase the forward gap = simple
Then the truck will pass and cut in front of you. So you drop back again, and the same thing happens. Then a truck that had just cut in front of you stops suddenly (you've not much idea what's going on as it's raining heavily and there's little forward visibility, especially with the spray from the trucks that keep passing you) and the one that's waiting to be the next to overtake you doesn't stop so quickly.
You're dead, probably.
You know it's also a really bad idea to sit next to trucks on the motorway - that's not so easy to control if they're overtaking you.
Deva Link said:
R0G said:
Then if a truck or any other gets too close behind simply increase the forward gap = simple
Then the truck will pass and cut in front of you. So you drop back again, and the same thing happens. Then a truck that had just cut in front of you stops suddenly (you've not much idea what's going on as it's raining heavily and there's little forward visibility, especially with the spray from the trucks that keep passing you) and the one that's waiting to be the next to overtake you doesn't stop so quickly.
You're dead, probably.
You know it's also a really bad idea to sit next to trucks on the motorway - that's not so easy to control if they're overtaking you.
Squiggs said:
...there would be no way you would have kept control if you aqua planned.
On the contrary, aqua planning is essential in these conditions I'm mostly on 2 lane motorways, and in very wet/standing water conditions, I don't feel entirely comfortable in my car above 50 or so. Most others keep in L1 if it's not too busy, meaning that none of the water in L2 gets cleared and it's pretty impassable in places, except for offroaders and the like.
I get the impression that people feel safer if they are less more than a couple of seconds away from the car in front in spray etc.
I'm in the overtaking lane myself, providing there is visibility for the deep puddles so that I can plan my driving to avoid most of them and having the car pointing in the right direction with nobody nearby in the case aquaplaning is unavoidable. And as nobody usually is behind, I can always slow down. If there is, let them pass.
But far easier, safer and recommended in the dark is to go slow in whatever lane most appropriate and just keep a lot of distance in front even with tailgaters - about 4 seconds. Yes some people will pull up in front of you - you just rebuild the gap. It's not like this happens ALL the time and you would come to a standstill by yourself, as some seem to imagine. If that was true, nobody could keep a safe distance - ever ;-). Just don't get annoyed if more than one person pulls in front of you. Indeed, the whole point of keeping a good distance is to facilitate lane changes and to thus make traffic flow smoother... but such thinking is far too advanced for the average egocentric driver...
Cheers
But far easier, safer and recommended in the dark is to go slow in whatever lane most appropriate and just keep a lot of distance in front even with tailgaters - about 4 seconds. Yes some people will pull up in front of you - you just rebuild the gap. It's not like this happens ALL the time and you would come to a standstill by yourself, as some seem to imagine. If that was true, nobody could keep a safe distance - ever ;-). Just don't get annoyed if more than one person pulls in front of you. Indeed, the whole point of keeping a good distance is to facilitate lane changes and to thus make traffic flow smoother... but such thinking is far too advanced for the average egocentric driver...
Cheers
I tend to find that worst standing water on the motorways I drive often is in L3 spilling over from the central reservation. Worse under bridges.
In a dangerous situation you want space. The most space is in L1 as you have a hard shoulder to play with if it all goes titsup - no other lane affords you that luxury.
The trouble with L1 is that the surface tends to be a little more grooved and holds a long shallow tyre track puddle on which you can aquaplane if you are particularly light and slippery - but this is less of an issue than grabby deep puddles in L3, I find.
Trucks can be an issue. Find one that you think is driven well and hang out near it. They aren't all auditioning for Duel. If you are being overtaken, a little lift can get the beastie past you cleanly and quickly. Just avoid coaches.
In a dangerous situation you want space. The most space is in L1 as you have a hard shoulder to play with if it all goes titsup - no other lane affords you that luxury.
The trouble with L1 is that the surface tends to be a little more grooved and holds a long shallow tyre track puddle on which you can aquaplane if you are particularly light and slippery - but this is less of an issue than grabby deep puddles in L3, I find.
Trucks can be an issue. Find one that you think is driven well and hang out near it. They aren't all auditioning for Duel. If you are being overtaken, a little lift can get the beastie past you cleanly and quickly. Just avoid coaches.
Trucks were a massive issue in the downpours earlier today.
Keeping their foot flat to the limiter with standing water and torrential rain - even if this meant sitting right on the bumper of the car in front, trying to bully them into going faster.
I can only assume their elevated driving position takes them far enough out of the spray that they don't see how poor visibility is at car level - and that their weight means they don't ever aquaplane.
Keeping their foot flat to the limiter with standing water and torrential rain - even if this meant sitting right on the bumper of the car in front, trying to bully them into going faster.
I can only assume their elevated driving position takes them far enough out of the spray that they don't see how poor visibility is at car level - and that their weight means they don't ever aquaplane.
7db said:
I tend to find that worst standing water on the motorways I drive often is in L3 spilling over from the central reservation. Worse under bridges.
Exactly where my Z3 decided to act shopping trolly like, go through 540 degs and up the embankment backwards. Luckily the road was quiet and I didn't collect with anything. Got bloody soaked waiting for the recovery truck.Gassing Station | Advanced Driving | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff