Slippery roadUkraine

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11. Slippery road

A slippery road has reduced tyre grip and can make steering, braking and acceleration less effective. Roads may become slippery because of rain, ice, snow, mud, oil, loose material or other substances on the surface. Drivers should reduce speed, increase their following distance and avoid sudden steering, braking or acceleration. Extra caution is needed in bends, on bridges and wherever the road surface changes unexpectedly.

Slippery road
Slippery-road warning sign on Lenin Street. (Ukraine)
Wikimedia.org • Lystopad • CC BY-SA
What makes a road slippery?

A road can become slippery because of rain, ice, snow, mud, oil, loose material or other substances that reduce tyre grip.

How should you drive on a slippery road?

Reduce speed, increase your following distance and use smooth steering, braking and acceleration. Sudden movements can cause the tyres to lose grip.

Why does braking distance increase on a slippery road?

Reduced tyre grip means the tyres cannot generate as much braking force, so the vehicle may need a longer distance to slow down or stop.

Can a road be slippery even when it looks dry?

Yes. Oil, dust, loose material or a thin layer of ice can reduce grip even when the road does not appear obviously wet or slippery.

Are bends more dangerous on slippery roads?

Yes. Turning requires tyre grip, so a slippery surface can make it easier for the vehicle to skid or leave its intended path, especially at higher speeds.

What should you do if your vehicle starts to skid?

Stay calm and avoid sudden braking or steering. Make smooth corrections and allow the tyres to regain grip. The correct response can depend on the vehicle and its safety systems.

1 Ukraine 2 Speed limit 3 Bike path 4 Bus stop 5 Give way 6 Roundabout 7 Pedestrian crossing 8 Railway crossing 9 Mandatory direction 10 School area 11 Slippery road 12 Wrong-way driving 13 Priority at the next junction 14 Traffic lights 15 Pedestrian underpass 16 Parking 17 No stopping 18 Reversing 19 City limit 20 Licence plate 21 Dangers 22 Bus 23 Police 24 Ambulance 25 Pothole 26 Path 27 Particulates 28 Air pollution 29 Rush hour 30 Road code 31 Street gutter 32 Cargo bike 33 Forestry vehicle 34 Construction vehicle 35 Semi-trailer truck 36 Trolleybus 37 Speed pedelec 38 Delivery vehicle 39 Idling 40 Tow truck 41 Four-wheel drive 42 Bicycle 43 Motorcycle equipment 44 Rail track 45 Caravan 46 Trailer 47 Tow hitch 48 Fire truck 49 Siren 50 Convoy 51 Emergency vehicle lighting 52 Agricultural machinery 53 Electric bicycle 54 Electric vehicle 55 Pedelec 56 Quadricycle 57 Microcar 58 All-terrain vehicle 59 Van 60 Recreational vehicle 61 Scooter 62 Trikke 63 Personal mobility device 64 Skateboard 65 Segway 66 Kick scooter 67 Roller skates 68 Mailman 69 Hitchhiker 70 Toddler 71 Child 72 Disability 73 Motorail 74 km/h 75 mph 76 Speedometer 77 Ride height 78 Dirt road 79 Driving 80 Start-stop system 81 Manual transmission 82 Automatic transmission 83 Throttle 84 Tachometer 85 Steering wheel 86 Power steering 87 Visual scanning 88 Mirror 89 Fuel 90 Fuel gauge 91 Petrol 92 Diesel 93 Diesel exhaust fluid 94 Car insurance 95 First aid kit 96 Fire extinguisher 97 High-visibility clothing 98 First aid 99 Concrete step barrier 100 Barriers ...