One Of Them "No! No! No!" Moments...

[tt82]

Originally Posted by Puffster

Fair enough but if that guy had been seriously injured and by giving first aid, would have survived or if the car had burst into flames and he'd roasted, then I would not have forgiven myself because I could have done something to save him but didn't.

I'd stop again under the same circumstances though this time I'll have a florescent rainproof jacket in the car as I got utterly soaked standing by the side of the road.

I do have a big yellow jacket in the rear of my car for if I ever breakdown and have to stand outside of the car. (touch wood it doesn't happen)

[grubby mits]

I haul anchors and pull over to the hard shoulder........

Which is why they shouldn't turn hard shoulders into running lanes...........

G

[apersson850]

In this country, the respect for people working on the roads have sunk to such a level that the fire brigade don't go out on the motorways any longer, in spite of alert signs, flashing blue lights on their lorries and high visibility clothing.

They park something like a 25 ton water tank lorry across the lanes first, as a barrier. Sometimes they create a chicane, with two/three trucks and police in place. The make the speed trap narrow enough that you can't make it until you are down to a walking pace.

Since drivers aren't clever enough to slow down when there's an accident, they have to wait instead.

[Ian21401]

Well done Puffster, all credit to you and pleased to hear you and the car survived unscathed. I'm a retired police traffic officer. My instinct is to stop and help and warn oncoming traffic, BUT, it only takes one idiot to kill me. As has happened to several good samaritans lately, one of whom was killed on a dual carriageway within four miles of where I live, adjacent to the area serious trauma hospital. I'm simply not sure what I would have done in similar circumstances. Possibly if I was alone in my car I would stop, but not if I had a passenger, my wife and/or daughter for instance.
Regarding aquaplaning, not only is the tyre tread depth important, and I tend to agree with green van man regarding the 3 mms. but at this time of the year with the road surface temperature quite possibly below 7.0 degrees C, was the tyre rubber the correct type for colder weather?

[Bonefishblues]

Originally Posted by Ian21401

Well done Puffster, all credit to you and pleased to hear you and the car survived unscathed. I'm a retired police traffic officer. My instinct is to stop and help and warn oncoming traffic, BUT, it only takes one idiot to kill me. As has happened to several good samaritans lately, one of whom was killed on a dual carriageway within four miles of where I live, adjacent to the area serious trauma hospital. I'm simply not sure what I would have done in similar circumstances. Possibly if I was alone in my car I would stop, but not if I had a passenger, my wife and/or daughter for instance.
Regarding aquaplaning, not only is the tyre tread depth important, and I tend to agree with green van man regarding the 3 mms. but at this time of the year with the road surface temperature quite possibly below 7.0 degrees C, was the tyre rubber the correct type for colder weather?

Not sure tyre compound is relevant v-a-v aquaplaning, which is a mechanical lifting of the tyre off the roadway because of a failure of the tread to clear water sufficiently quickly, shirley?

[GreenBrick]

Originally Posted by apersson850

If you suffer from aquaplaning you are simply going too fast. If your wheels aren't on the ground any longer (literally in this case), then no drive system will help.

Yep, too true, which is why my brother-in-law lost his landrover (a proper one-
not a soft-roader) on ice. Doesn't matter how many driven wheels you have when they are no longer in contact with the road.

[tt82]

Originally Posted by Bonefishblues

Not sure tyre compound is relevant v-a-v aquaplaning, which is a mechanical lifting of the tyre off the roadway because of a failure of the tread to clear water sufficiently quickly, shirley?

In motorsport, wet weather tyres as well as having a different tread pattern, are usually made from a softer compound. With normal road tyres, winter tyres are also a different tread compound, usually softer than summer tyres, so there most likely is some merit to the statement.

[Bonefishblues]

Originally Posted by tt82

In motorsport, wet weather tyres as well as having a different tread pattern, are usually made from a softer compound. With normal road tyres, winter tyres are also a different tread compound, usually softer than summer tyres, so there most likely is some merit to the statement.

I was specific v-a-v aquaplaning which is a total loss of mechanical grip such that the tread is no longer in contact with the road. In that context tread compound's irrelevant. That was in response to the statement made.

In the real world most of the time tyres are in contact with tarmac, no aquaplaning so tread material is important in cold weather in particular, to maintain flexibility and enhance grip.

In motorsport the dynamic is that a softer compound is specced in order that the tyre retains some heat via mechanical friction and compound hysteresis and thus grips better, being closer to optimum operating temperature when exposed to the cooling effect of wet conditions.

[tt82]

Tests have shown that a winter tyre is capable of stopping a car in a shorter distance on a flooded road in temperatures at 4 degrees C, than what a summer tyre can. Perhaps part of the compound being softer, allowing the tread blocks to move and generate more heat, also helps them disperse the water more effectively, thus raising the point at which the car aquaplanes.

I don't think it being suggested that a winter tyre wont aquaplane, just that they might be able to cope with higher levels of surface water before they do and that they offer more grip to help regain control of the vehicle afterwards, compared to a summer tyre.

[green van man]

Originally Posted by GreenBrick

Yep, too true, which is why my brother-in-law lost his landrover (a proper one-
not a soft-roader) on ice. Doesn't matter how many driven wheels you have when they are no longer in contact with the road.

4wd is very good at getting you started, however you still have to stop the thing.

I have come down an ice covered 20% hill in sub zero temp with no drama in the landrover, low box, 1st gear and let it trickle down on tickover being ever ready to steer for the bank if it started to get away from me. There is a surprising amount of grip on ice if treated with respect and driven gently. I would not try it in the Volvo as the absence of the low ratio box would lead to having to use the brakes and likely runaway.

Paul.