Gardaí in Donegal have issued a road safety warning to the public, as a period of unsettled weather is set to return over this weekend.
With plenty of long dry spells over the past few weeks, the return of the more familiar wet weather can also bring additional unexpected dangers for road users.
Widespread rain is expected this afternoon, with plenty of unsettled weather on the way next week according to Met Éireann’s forecasts.
An Garda Síochana Donegal issued the following advice for anyone taking to the roads this weekend.
“During a spell of dry weather, materials such as oil and rubber from tyres are not washed away, causing them to accumulate on the road surface. When it rains after a dry spell, this accumulated residue mixes with the rainwater, forming a slick & greasy layer on the road,” Donegal Gardaí said.
“This slick layer reduces the friction between the tyres and the road, making it easier for wheels to lose traction and potentially leading to skidding or loss of control.”
They are also reminding members of the public to check the tread on their tyres, as having more worn tyres limits your grip on the road surface and makes driving in wet conditions even more of a challenge.
“Please check your tyres regularly and even more regularly when the tread depth reaches 3mm. The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm. The more worn your tyres become, the less grip they will have on the road surface.”
The message is clear: “Slow down and be cautious.”
