UK Poor Road Skid Resistance (Extract From Electric Cars – The Truth Revealed)
Thursday, 20. April 2023
Skid resistance, a critical measurement reflecting the friction between a vehicle’s tyre and the road surface, is indispensable for road safety as it directly influences a vehicle’s stopping, steering, and control capabilities. In the UK, the Department for Transport has set forth regulations prescribing minimum skid resistance values to guarantee safe driving conditions; however, considering the current condition of numerous roads, are these minimum standards being achieved?
Various factors can impact skid resistance, encompassing surface texture and material, road surface condition, tyre type and condition, and environmental conditions such as moisture, temperature, and road debris. Gradually, road surfaces can deteriorate and become smoother, diminishing skid resistance and amplifying accident risks, especially in wet or icy conditions.
This issue is already concerning for petrol or diesel vehicles, but driving electric cars on roads with potholes and low skid resistance can lead to disastrous outcomes.
Skidding-induced loss of control is a major contributor to numerous accidents (particularly on wet roads). Special focus should be directed towards carriageway surfaces with skid-resistant properties, especially in areas where braking is common, like intersections, roundabouts, pedestrian crossings, and bends or steep inclines.
Electric cars deliver instant traction to the wheels, which requires exceptional grip if skids are to be avoided and maximum range maintained as a result of adequate skid resistance.
Resurfacing UK roads is crucial to maintain safe driving conditions and avert accidents. The resurfacing process involves applying a new material layer, such as asphalt or concrete, over the existing road surface. This can restore skid resistance, enhance ride quality, and prolong road lifespan.
Additionally, resurfacing can improve road surface drainage, mitigating standing water and hydroplaning risks. Hydroplaning occurs when water accumulates between tyres and the road surface, causing tyres to lose road contact and making vehicle control challenging.
Several permanent and temporary fixes include:
Retexturing: Mechanical reworking of the current surface to augment frictional characteristics and skid resistance. Common methods involve removing material from the road surface using diamond grooving, shot-blasting, bush hammering, or high-velocity water blasting.
Resurfacing: Involves cost-effective thin surfacing treatments to enhance surface texture, wet road skid resistance, and seal the surface against water penetration while arresting existing road surface disintegration.
Surface Dressing: Applies a bitumen emulsion spray onto the road surface, followed by a layer of high Polished Stone Value (PSV) chippings.
High Friction Surfacing (HFS): Utilizes refractory grade calcined bauxite, a highly durable aggregate (with high PSV) for sustained skid resistance. HFS systems can be thermoplastic (hot-lay) or thermosetting (cold-lay) resin binders.
Porous Friction Course: A highly permeable asphalt layer with continuous voids, accommodating low to moderate rainfall intensities runoff. This material enhances skid resistance at high traffic speeds, minimizes water sprays, and reduces aquaplaning possibilities.
Alongside resurfacing, other measures to enhance skid resistance on UK roads include employing road markings and textures to increase road surface grip, refining drainage system design and placement, and performing regular road maintenance and cleaning to eliminate debris and optimize surface conditions.
In summary, skid resistance is a vital element of road safety, particularly for electric cars. Resurfacing UK roads is essential to preserve safe driving conditions. Consistent road maintenance and improvements can ensure that roads remain secure and navigable for all users. By Graham Hill
