Slippery roads

[Alfie]

Yesterday was quite a hot day but at about 5pm it started to rain heavily for about 5-10 minutes. I was driving on Mitrapap road at the time near the road turn off for Non Sung. I slowed down but still felt that my tyres weren't gripping the road like they normally do so I slowed down some more.

Literally a few seconds later, a truck appeared in front of me sideways on the road, blocking both lanes. It appeared it had skidded but thankfully stayed on the road and did not hit another vehicle. After getting past the truck and driving no more that 400m, I saw two cars in the ditch in the central reservation. Then after another 300m, there was a lorry half on the road and half on the central reservation. A few hundred metres along the road and there were two cars that had collided. All together I counted eight vehicles that had been in trouble in the space of about 3km. Most unusual.

The road was wet but I have seen it with much more water on. All I can think of is that the road getting wet after a few months of dry weather made the road treacherous. Presumably the dirt, grime and oil on the road surface combined with the water to make the surface really slippery.

I thought I'd mention it for when the rains come again. Stay safe on the roads.

[Roger]

Alfie - I've heard about this before. After very long hot dry spells it's the residue from millions of tyres on the road - the first big rain makes a rink. In support of that, we read increasingly that the 'pollution' from millions of wearing tyres is an environmental issue too, when the rains take it 'away'

You are right - it's a dangerous time . . . . . 

[Roger]

A useful warning Alfie - it is a real danger and I remember it being cautioned in the UK too during those long droughts that sometimes occur - watch out when the first rains come !

I noticed this in a quick search - "The dangers of wet roads after a dry spell - When the weather has been warm and dry for an extended period of time, the everyday build up on the road surface accumulates. If there aren’t frequent showers to wash this build up away, substances such as oil, grease, rubber & tar form a thin layer on the road surface.

When the rain eventually comes this build up rises to the surface and causes the roads to become very slippery. Research has found that the risk of having an accident on a rainy day increases with the length of the dry spell preceding it.  If there has been constant rain for a period of time then the danger due to wet road conditions falls."

Re. the bit I put in bold above - I'd guess that the scorching temperatures of the road surfaces in the Thailand sun make the problem worse. Thanks.

[Hector]

Yes, it's a useful warning to be reminded - or informed - of this.  Due to Thailand's often lengthy periods of really hot dry weather, road like the Mitraparp become seriously slippery at the first rainfall.  It's a pity that so many drivers - mainly Thai I suspect - don't realise this and just keep truccking on at the same speed......  Thanks for the warning!