COMMENTARY: Drive to arrive: Tips ensure safety to drivers, pedestrians

  • Published
  • By Capt. Tom Dolan
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Safety Office
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  (Editor's note: Much of the following information has been taken from the United Kingdom Highway Code. For more information about U.K. driving regulations, visit https://www.gov.uk/highway-code.) 

Driving in the U.K. presents its own unique challenges. For both drivers who are new to the country and the seasoned motorists, the following tips are good rules to adhere to while out and about.

Headlight and fog light usage
While driving in adverse weather conditions (Rule 226), motorists must use headlights:
  • when visibility is seriously reduced 
  • when visibility is less than 100 meters (328 feet)
Motorists must adhere to the following whenever headlights are used or required:
  • Ensure all sidelights and rear registration plate lights are lit between sunset and sunrise.
  • Use headlights at night, except on a road which has lit street lighting.
  • Night (the hours of darkness) is defined as the period between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise.
  • These roads are generally restricted to a speed limit of 30 mph (48 kph) unless otherwise specified.
While driving in adverse weather conditions, motorists must use fog lights (condensed text from U.K. Highway Code part 235):
  • as required
  • keep a safe distance as rear lights can be a false sense of security, and beware that other drivers may not be using headlights or fog lights.
While driving in adverse weather conditions motorists must not use fog lights (Rule 236) unless visibility is seriously reduced as they dazzle other road users and can obscure your brake lights. You must switch them off when visibility improves.

Slow your "roll"
Motorists can cut their stopping distance by 25 percent when dropping their speed from 60 to 50 mph and by more than 50 percent when dropping from 60 to 40 mph. In addition to speed, there are many variables, such as weather and tire conditions, that can affect stopping distances.

Icy and snowy weather
In winter, check the local weather forecast for warnings of icy or snowy weather. Do not drive in these conditions unless it is (mission) essential. If it is, take great care and allow more time for your journey. Carry in your vehicle an emergency kit containing de-icer, an ice scraper, warm clothing and boots, a first aid kit, jump leads, a shovel, a warm drink and emergency food in case you get stuck or your vehicle breaks down.

Before you set off:
  • Drivers must be able to see, so clear all snow and ice from all your windows.
  • Drivers must ensure lights are clean and number plates are clearly visible and legible.
  • Ensure the mirrors are clear and the windows are thoroughly demisted.
  • Remove all snow that might fall off into the path of other road users.
  • Check your planned route is clear of delays and there are no predictions for further snowfalls or severe weather.
When driving in icy or snowy weather, keep the following in mind:
  • Drive with care, even if the roads have been treated.
  • Keep well back from the road user in front of you, as stopping distances can be 10 times greater on wet roads than on dry roads (view the chart of typical stopping distances above and multiple those by 10).
  • Take care when overtaking vehicles spreading salt or other de-icer, particularly if you are riding a motorcycle or bicycle.
  • Watch out for snow ploughs which may throw out snow on either side. Do not overtake them unless the lane you intend to use has been cleared.
  • Be prepared for the road conditions to change over relatively short distances.
  • Be extremely careful while driving, especially when the roads are icy. Avoid sudden actions as these could cause loss of control.
Drivers should:
  • Drive at a slow speed in as high a gear as possible; accelerate and brake very gently.
  • Drive particularly slowly on bends where loss of control is more likely. Brake progressively on the straight before you reach a bend. Having slowed down, steer smoothly round the bend; avoid sudden actions.
  • Check your grip on the road surface when there is snow or ice by choosing a safe place to brake gently. If the steering feels unresponsive this may indicate ice and your vehicle losing its grip on the road. When traveling on ice, tires make virtually no noise.
Tailgating and other unsafe driving acts
The 100th Air Refueling Wing Safety Office is aware that tailgating is a problem in the area. Recent local council meetings have noted there has lately been an increase in drivers committing unsafe acts like tailgating. There are new police powers to deal with careless drivers. For example, there's now a £100 fine and a three-point deduction on a driver's license for tailgating. The following is a list of driving offences considered to be careless or inconsiderate that have a fixed penalty:
  • Driving too close to the vehicle in front (tailgating)
  • Failing to give way at a junction (not requiring evasive action by another driver)
  • Overtaking and pushing into a queue of traffic
  • Being in the wrong lane and pushing into a queue on a roundabout
  • Lane discipline, such as needlessly hogging the middle or outside lanes
  • Inappropriate speed
  • Wheel-spins, handbrake turns and other careless maneuvers
Final note
We all know that Mildenhall Road (the road between RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath) is dangerous under normal conditions. Now add in longer periods of darkness, no street lighting, bad winter weather and slick or icy road conditions and you have a recipe for disaster. Don't allow yourself to become complacent simply because you have driven that route many times before with no issues.

Much like yourself, the drivers of each car that you see flipped over on these roads had zero intention of getting into a vehicle crash that day. The next time you drive, it could be your last ... unless you and other vehicles on the roads take personal responsibility for each other and commit to driving slower, putting the phone down, and accounting for the road conditions and your surroundings.

Finally, when is the last time you checked your windshield wiper fluid or your tire pressure? When is the last time you checked your vehicle's overall condition? Take care of the easy fixes for yourself and your family now before they become a problem.