Be wary of muddy and slippery gravel roads

By Dumisa Dlamini

There is a lot of traffic that is harboured by dirty roads often times referred to as gravel roads. Every driver therefore has had an opportunity and experience of driving through such unequal and rough terrains and subjecting the vehicle to hard conditions that may render it unroadworthy by the time it comes to the tarmac. By their location some vehicles are more driven on these roads and their drivers used to be the slowest of the slow. Remember, this is not a demarcated space in terms of lines and it depends on each driver’s discretion to keep to their side of traffic so and to allow others their spaces. Such discretion at times is compromised especially when one attempts to pick a better side wherein they may be encroaching unto the other’s course way. Gravel roads are often times than not bushy with overhanging vegetation that wold obscure visibility of oncoming traffic. It is imperative therefore for every driver to reduce their speed and be on the lookout for vehicles and stray animals that may be grazing along the road.

THE TORENTIAL RAINS ON GRAVEL ROADS

The situation of the dirty road is ever worsened by torrential rains wherein it becomes even more rugged ad the finer surface is washed away. A lot of main and feeder gravel roads would subject motorists to a halt because a donga would have developed here or the low level crossing bridge would we over flooded or washed away. Such roads are even more dangerous to use at night where visibility is compromised. As result motorists have lost control of their vehicles and slid unto near dongas whilst others have been washed away as they attempt to cross low level bridges. Each time it rains, it is important that motorists minimise the distance they can drive o such roads until the condition improves but most importantly it is dangerous and could even be fatal to drive on a gravel road on a rainy day.

Nobody should, again attempt to cross a low ridge when it has been totally concealed by floods because it may have been swept away over ad above the fact that water does not allow a vehicle to tract on a surface it already occupies.

DIRTY ROADS CAN BE MUDDY AND IMPASSABLE!

Not every driver has the skill and the tact to drive through the mud because for every driver’s training takes place on the tarmac. You will, at some point have to drive on the mud. This would be slippery and losing control of the vehicles imminent for most drivers. In their quest to manoeuvre through the mud most drivers would meander all over the place subjecting themselves and other vehicles to side swipes and head-on- collisions. Every time ones drives through such a slippery terrain it is wise to keep a very safe following distance so as avoid rear smashes in the event the vehicle ahead is stuck and can’t make it through the mud. We would advise also that for anyone who has trip that would take him to such roads, it would help to make your findings if that road is passable. Some of them are so muddy they ain’t passable and you may spend the night out in the veld.

TAKE AWAYS:

• Slow down, gravel roads are rugged.
• Keep a safe following distance, the vehicle in front may be stuck.
• Don’t cross over flooded rivers.
• Check your vehicle regularly after every trip on the gravel road.