Motorists on Country Roads: Cornering
When the weather is warm and the sun shining, there is no better feeling than going for a pleasant drive in the countryside. The fresh air and scenery certainly beat the normal daily commute and if you are keen driver you can enjoy the performance of your car within the legal limits on relatively uncongested roads.
Unfortunately there is a threat when driving in the countryside, which is a significant cause of many accidents and it is called the tightening radius bend. Normally when you travel around a corner its radius stays relatively the same so once you have turned into the corner you very rarely have to increase the steering lock further. Tightening radius bends are different and require more steering lock the further into them you go.
The typical example of a crash caused by a tightening radius bend is a when the driver turns into a corner at a speed they think suitable for the conditions and corner type, but mid way through the bend significantly tightens.
The driver may attempt to correct for the speed by applying more pressure to the steering, tightening it up, but the speed is normally too high and the car begins to under- steer. The driver may try to fight this phenomenon by using the brakes, but this can cause the vehicle to hit an oncoming car or go into the ditch.
The countryside offers another challenge to drivers, especially in the summer. Since the bends can be quite tight it can be difficult to see the changes in the road. In the summer hedges, bushes, or trees can also obscure the curve. A driver can easily be caught by a sudden corner.
In order to avoid becoming another countryside crash statistic you need to use extra visual clues if the bend is obscured, and ensure that all of your braking and gear changes have been done before you enter the corner.
If you cannot see through the corner, look ahead for telegraph poles or lamp posts which are normally at the edge of the road and give advanced warning of the shape of the bend. If you are driving at night use the light from an on coming car’s headlight bulbs as a guide. Only enter a bend at a speed that allows you to stop safely on your side of the road within the distance you can see and avoid unbalancing a car mid corner by braking or changing gear.
After the curve begins to dissipate you will be able to increase your speed again. There are other dangers in the country besides bends in the road for you to be watchful of. Mud, slower moving vehicles, and even livestock can create accidents. If you think “What If” when driving, you could avoid an accident.
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