DRIVING SAFELY IN ABU DHABI : PART 3 - DRIVING IN DIFFICULT CONDITIONS

 

CAMELS AND OTHER ANIMALS

 

Animals can be a real problem on unfenced roads, especially away from the main routes. Dawn and dusk are the times you are most likely to encounter camels or goats on the rural roads. Take care:

 

·         Pay attention to the triangular camel warning signs.

·         If you come across an animal on the road, slow down to walking pace to avoid startling it

·         Steer behind the animal.

 

After you have passed the animal, warn drivers coming the other way about the potential problem by switching on your hazard lights briefly.

 

 

SUN GLARE

 

It can be hard to see the road ahead when you are driving into bright sunlight at sunrise or sunset. Slow down at these times and be aware of the traffic and possible hazards around you.  Wear sunglasses when you are driving in bright sunlight and use the sun visor in your vehicle to help reduce the glare.

 

 

RAIN

 

It may not rain often in Abu Dhabi, but that means road users have little experience of wet weather driving. There are two problems:

 

·         Light rain can make the surface of the road unexpectedly greasy and increase the chances of skids.

·         Heavy rain means other vehicles will produce enough spray to make visibility difficult. It also means a chance of aquaplaning – the situation where your tyres lose contact with the road and ‘surf’ on the surface of the water.

 

The key rule is simply to take care:

 

·         Remember that stopping distances will be at least double those required for stopping on dry roads because your tyres have less grip on the road.

·         Avoid aquaplaning by reducing your speed to less than 80 kph. Try to travel in the tracks of the vehicle in front of you; that will have dispersed some of the water for you.

·         Keep well back from the vehicle in front to minimize the amount of spray that will obscure your visibility. This will increase your ability to see and plan ahead.

·         If the rain is very heavy, pull off the road and wait for it to stop.

 

Important Note: You must use headlights during the day when visibility is poor.

 

 

WIND AND SANDSTORMS

 

Strong gusts or continuous gales can blow a car off the course, especially on open stretches of road with no shelter from crosswinds.

 

In very windy weather or heavy sandstorms your vehicle may also be affected by turbulence created by large vehicles.

 

Sandstorms can seriously reduce visibility.  If you cannot put off your trip until the sandstorm lifts, follow these tips:

 

·         Slow down – the faster you drive, the less time you will have to avoid danger.

·         Use your headlights on low beam and front and rear fog lights; it will help other road users to see you and you will see them.

 

 

FOG

 

Fog means reduced visibility, creating dangerous driving conditions.  If you cannot put off your trip until the fog lifts, follow these tips:

 

·         Slow down – the faster you drive, the less time you will have to avoid danger.

·         Use your headlights on low beam and front and rear fog lights; it will help other road users to see you and you will see them.  (Make sure your high beam is not turned on by accidents; the high-beam light directly illuminates the fog, making it difficult for you to see.)

 

As you enter a patch of fog, check your mirrors and press your foot lightly on the brake so that your lights warn following drivers.

 

Be safe and God bless us always,,,

 

Psyche

 

 

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