DRIVERS are being urges to take care on the roads today (Thursday) amidst strong winds and rain arriving because of ‘Storm Doris’.
The Met Office has warned there could be high winds of up to 50mph and heavy rain across Droitwich and Worcester during the morning rush hour and throughout the day. This could relate in localised flooding on roads and challenging driving conditions.
Worcestershire Highways has already put additional measures in place to keep roads safe, including six gangs and two gully emptiers on standby.
Tree contractors and key highways managers will be on standby and ford crossings will be checked.
Due to conditions, motorists are being encouraged to take extra care when driving.
Poor visibility means that headlights must be used, and drivers should allow a larger gap between vehicles to allow for the increased stopping distance.
Drivers are advised to pass slowly and carefully through large puddles and areas of standing water. If motorists come across a road that has been flooded, they must not attempt to drive through the water.
Coun Marcus Hart, Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, said: “We are responding to the warnings from the Met Office, to help keep our roads safe.
“As always, even though we are putting special measures in place, we urge road users to drive carefully and not take any unnecessary risks.”
His warning was echoed by Highways England – the organisation’s Head of Road Safety Richard Leonard said: “We’re expecting Storm Doris to have a significant impact on the roads throughout the day tomorrow so are urging drivers to consider changing their plans if necessary and to slow down in stormy weather.
“Drivers should look out for warnings on the electronic message signs and listen for updates in radio travel bulletins.
“Our traffic officers will also be ready to respond to any incidents during Storm Doris, and we’re urging drivers to respond to the changing conditions on the road to stay safe.”
Earlier this winter, Highways England launched a new safety campaign warning drivers that ‘when it rains, it kills’ after the latest statistics showed that people are 30 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured on the roads in rain than in snow.
The figures also reveal that travelling too fast for the current conditions was identified as a factor in 1 in 9 road deaths in Great Britain last year, with drivers failing to alter how they drive in response to changing conditions on the road.
It generally takes at least twice as long to stop on a wet road as on a dry road because tyres have less grip on the surface.
In wet weather Highways England suggest drivers should:
Slow down if the rain and spray from vehicles is making it difficult to see and be seen;
Keep well back from the vehicle in front as this will increase your ability to see and plan ahead and
Ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually if the steering becomes unresponsive as it probably means that water is preventing the tyres from gripping the road
