Slippery roads and poor visibility during snowfall are just some of the factors to consider when getting behind the wheel in winter. This year, several tragic accidents have already occurred, one of which was on the Ventspils highway, where three people died in a traffic accident involving six cars on Sunday. The causes of the accident could be several factors, noted road safety expert from CSDD Oskars Irbitis in an interview for the TV3 program “900 seconds.”
“On Sunday, the weather conditions were indeed challenging. The weather changed constantly. When I was driving to the accident site from Salaspils, the weather changed significantly about five times. In one place, the roads were clear and dry, in another — covered with snow, in the third — slippery. Therefore, a driver needs to be prepared to react to changes. Moreover, from time to time, it was snowing, which made the road even more slippery. Even if the road is treated with anti-icing agents, the snow dilutes them, and ice forms much faster, especially where the wind can pick up,” commented Irbitis.
When asked what drivers should consider in winter, for example, if the car ahead suddenly slows down or moves slowly, Irbitis replied: “One of the universal rules of road safety is to think. If the vehicle in front starts to drive slowly, in winter, there is likely something wrong with the road. […] In summer, we can criticize slow drivers, but in winter, we have no grounds for that. The weather conditions are very changeable now, and people need to react in time.”
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