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page 6
T-16-UT (4+16)
Operation
Weather conditions can be a major factor in the cause of accidents. Rain, ice, snow,
high winds and visibility combined with excessive speed, sudden lane changes, or
other factors that put lateral forces into a tow vehicle trailer combination contribute
significantly to an accident.
Slippery roads can increase stopping distances and reduce the ability to control the
vehicle. When the road is wet, the available tire/road friction may be half that of a dry
road, and icy roads can reduce friction many times over wet roads. If hard braking or
rapid acceleration occurs, there may be little or no friction available to prevent tire
lateral movement and skidding results.
The driver has a responsibility to compensate for the characteristics and conditions
of his vehicle, the road conditions and weather. Reducing speeds and increasing atten-
tiveness may compensate for most of these conditions. The more familiar the driver is
with the vehicle and the road, the less likely he will need to make abrupt emergency
maneuvers which will take the vehicle to its limits. Control and stability may be main-
tained if the driver knows his vehicle, his load, and the road.
Either braking or accelerating while cornering can significantly reduce the control-
lability and stability of the vehicle and should be avoided. The best driving practice is to
decelerate to a safe conservative speed before entering a corner or approaching con-
gested traffic and then apply only moderate power until an essentially straight path has
been established.
It is imperative that a safe speed always be maintained. The safe speed is that
speed at which control can be maintained over the vehicle at all times. This speed will
allow an emergency change of lane maneuver, travel off an exit ramp with a tightening
radius and recovery from pavement drop-off or wet pavement. This speed will vary from
one combination of vehicle to another and takes into consideration such factors as
road conditions, weather, traffic, visibility, type of load and experience of the driver.
Summary of Contents for T-16-UT (4+16)
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