Chapter 12: Visibility and Road Hazards

1. Visibility

Demister device: a device that de-fogs the glass through hot jets of air.

Anti-frost device: filaments in the glass that heat slightly and de-fog the glass or prevents ice from forming.

1.1 Mirrors

Mandatory mirrors are the exterior Left-hand side and rear-view inside mirrors. If this requirement is not met (e.g. if blinds or tinted glass are used and you cannot see in the interior mirror), the outside LEFT and RIGHT exterior mirrors are mandatory.

A rear-view interior panoramic mirror does not replace any mandatory mirror.

To adjust the mirror, the vehicle must be immobilized on a flat, horizontal place. Even if mirrors are properly adjusted, there is always an area that you cannot see because of the body, called the blind spot.

You should look in the mirrors briefly several times.

• Every 5-10 seconds on urban roads or inter-urban roads with heavy traffic
• Every 10-15 seconds on inter-urban roads in general

The exterior mirrors are convex and the vehicle behind you appears smaller and further away. To be well-adjusted, you should be able to see a bit of the back of the vehicle, NOT the side.

The rear-view interior mirror is flat and for it to be well adjusted, you must be able to see 3 or 4 sides of the rear window.

1.2 Windscreen wipers

Use the wiper speed needed to keep the windscreen clear; increase it when spray reduces visibility.

2. Hazards on the road

Night driving:

• Adapt speed to the area illuminated by the lights of your vehicle.
• Avoid glare (slow speed, even coming to a stop).
• Use regulated and clean headlights.

Bends:

• Avoid veering out of the bend (centrifugal force), causes: High speed, heavy load, tight bends.
• Before entering: Slow down. In the bend: Avoid abrupt braking or steering; accelerate smoothly as the bend opens.

An example of centrifugal force would be clothes spinning in a washing machine, which stick to the outside because of the force of the rotation.

Rain:

• Reduce speed
• + Front distance and braking distance (which can double or more, depending on conditions)
• - Traction and visibility. Use appropriate lighting
• Hazards: hydroplaning, check brakes, don’t splash, fogging windows. If hydroplaning occurs, hold the wheel firmly, ease off the accelerator and avoid braking or abrupt steering until grip returns.
• You should be most cautious when the rain first starts

Snow:

• Reduce speed
• + Front distance and braking distance
• - Traction and visibility
• When required, fit chains or approved devices to at least one driven wheel on each side. If using winter/all-season tyres instead to meet winter restrictions, vehicles up to 3,500kg MMA need 3PMSF-certified tyres on all axles. Use a suitably high gear and keep sufficient fuel.
• In fresh snow, follow other vehicles’ tracks where they provide grip; be cautious if the tracks have frozen.

On motorways and dual carriageways, when snow on the carriageway makes traffic difficult, overtaking is prohibited. Use the rightmost lane; with three or more lanes in the same direction, the next lane may also be used. Leave all remaining lanes on the left clear for emergency vehicles and snowploughs.

The following braking distances are illustrative; actual distances vary with tyres, surface and weather.

BREAKING DISTANCE IN THE WET AT 80KPH

• WINTER TYRE: 34m
• STANDARD TYRE: 40m

BREAKING DISTANCE IN SNOW AT 50KPH

• WINTER TYRE: 32m
• STANDARD TYRE: 63m

Fog:

• Reduce speed
• + Front distance and braking distance
• - Traction and visibility
• Use dipped headlights; front fog lights may also be used. In fog, the rear fog light is required only when the fog is dense. Avoid high beams, which reflect back and reduce visibility.
• Hazards: chain collisions, recommended to guide yourself by road markings

Ice:

• Reduce speed
• + Front distance and braking distance (which can be ten times greater or more)
• - Traction and visibility
• Hazards: use suitable approved equipment and avoid abrupt acceleration, braking or steering. Use particular caution at dawn, at night and in shaded areas. M&S marking alone does not meet the current special snow-tyre requirement: the 3PMSF snowflake marking is also needed.

Heat:

• + Reaction time
• + Fatigue (recommendable to take more breaks)
• + Aggressiveness
• Sun: Wear sunglasses, clean the windows

Smoke: Same as fog.

Wind (Cross winds): More dangerous from the side (lateral winds) and with gusts of wind. Dangerous to overtake a large vehicle, or at the intersection with another vehicle. Motorcycles and mopeds are the most affected by lateral winds. Reduce speed and hold the steering wheel firmly, especially when leaving tunnels or sheltered sections.