Motorists on Country Roads: Cornering
When the weather is warm and the sun shining, there is no better feeling than going for a pleasant drive in the countryside. The fresh air and scenery certainly beat the normal daily commute and if you are keen driver you can enjoy the performance of your car within the legal limits on relatively uncongested roads.
When driving on country roads there is a danger- the tightening radius bend that is well known for creating several accidents. On a normal corner the radius will remain the same as you make the turn, thus you will leave the steering in the same position. With curves the tightening radius bend may vary, thus you have to change the steering lock as you move further into the curve.
A good illustration of this is when a car crashes because the driver did not properly reduce their speed or consider that the curve may change as the bend continues. Often times a corner will change in the bend, tightening and thus requiring a lower speed.
The driver may attempt to correct for the speed by applying more pressure to the steering, tightening it up, but the speed is normally too high and the car begins to under- steer. The driver may try to fight this phenomenon by using the brakes, but this can cause the vehicle to hit an oncoming car or go into the ditch.
The countryside offers another challenge to drivers, especially in the summer. Since the bends can be quite tight it can be difficult to see the changes in the road. In the summer hedges, bushes, or trees can also obscure the curve. A driver can easily be caught by a sudden corner.
In order to avoid becoming another countryside crash statistic you need to use extra visual clues if the bend is obscured, and ensure that all of your braking and gear changes have been done before you enter the corner.
Light poles or telephone poles are the best visual cues you have in regards to a curve that is obstructed. The poles can indicate a change is going to occur in the road, thus giving you warning. At night these types of cues can be difficult to see, so using an oncoming car's headlights for warning is also acceptable. You should enter a bend at a safe speed to remain on your side of the road and avoid an unbalanced car when you hit the middle of the curve.
After the curve begins to dissipate you will be able to increase your speed again. There are other dangers in the country besides bends in the road for you to be watchful of. Mud, slower moving vehicles, and even livestock can create accidents. If you think "What If" when driving, you could avoid an accident. - 21396
When driving on country roads there is a danger- the tightening radius bend that is well known for creating several accidents. On a normal corner the radius will remain the same as you make the turn, thus you will leave the steering in the same position. With curves the tightening radius bend may vary, thus you have to change the steering lock as you move further into the curve.
A good illustration of this is when a car crashes because the driver did not properly reduce their speed or consider that the curve may change as the bend continues. Often times a corner will change in the bend, tightening and thus requiring a lower speed.
The driver may attempt to correct for the speed by applying more pressure to the steering, tightening it up, but the speed is normally too high and the car begins to under- steer. The driver may try to fight this phenomenon by using the brakes, but this can cause the vehicle to hit an oncoming car or go into the ditch.
The countryside offers another challenge to drivers, especially in the summer. Since the bends can be quite tight it can be difficult to see the changes in the road. In the summer hedges, bushes, or trees can also obscure the curve. A driver can easily be caught by a sudden corner.
In order to avoid becoming another countryside crash statistic you need to use extra visual clues if the bend is obscured, and ensure that all of your braking and gear changes have been done before you enter the corner.
Light poles or telephone poles are the best visual cues you have in regards to a curve that is obstructed. The poles can indicate a change is going to occur in the road, thus giving you warning. At night these types of cues can be difficult to see, so using an oncoming car's headlights for warning is also acceptable. You should enter a bend at a safe speed to remain on your side of the road and avoid an unbalanced car when you hit the middle of the curve.
After the curve begins to dissipate you will be able to increase your speed again. There are other dangers in the country besides bends in the road for you to be watchful of. Mud, slower moving vehicles, and even livestock can create accidents. If you think "What If" when driving, you could avoid an accident. - 21396
About the Author:
You can improve the chances of being seen by other road users by switching on your standard headlight bulbs, even if you are driving during the day. You can now also upgrade them to brighter xenon bulbs like the bulbs here, as studies have show daytime running car light can dramatically lower the chances of a road traffic collision.
posted by X - Men @ 1:37 AM
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