Fog, poor visibility, slippery. Winter is knocking on the door

Although the fog on Sunday morning and still in the morning tormented motorists in many places in Central Bohemia, fortunately, however, did not confirm the concern that drivers, still accustomed to summer mode, more likely to demolish on slippery roads.

Freezing mists and possible icing should also be expected on Monday night from midnight until 10 am. This can make the situation on the roads more serious - and not only because of local meteorological phenomena. CHMI warnings already apply to the whole region, not just to a part of its territory, and in addition to hitting the post-traffic rush hour Monday morning. After that there are typical rushes on the roads and rush, sometimes even aggravated by nervousness, when prudence and caution are thrown by some.

Carefully - and be seen

While driving in fog, meteorologists call for speed reduction and very careful driving. "Prolonged freezing mist can lead to icing on roads with a risk of skidding," warns CHMI. Also, police emphasize the proper lighting of the vehicle - as well as how important it is to see pedestrians in the autumn sleet. By the way: just the daytime running lights in fog make the car invisible from behind.

The statutory provision states that while the front fog lamps "may" only be used by the driver in fog, snow or heavy rain, the rear fog lamps "must" always be used under these conditions. However, police officers also encounter drivers who do not even know how the fog lights turn on!

"Being seen is a basic rule for all road users not only in low visibility," warned the spokeswoman of Central Bohemian Police Veronika Cermakova. With the addition that by respecting this rule we can save the most valuable thing, we have our own life. This is especially true in the case of pedestrians who often live in great error: they assume that when they see an approaching vehicle, the driver must also see them. It is not true, points out Cermáková - advising how pedestrians can increase their visibility: bright clothing, preferably supplemented with reflective fabrics.

"The most widely used is a simple reflective tape (already recommended to be placed on the most moving part of the body to the side of the road, at the end of the sleeve or close to the knees) - but there are plenty of other reflective accessories on the market: like laces, key rings, ironing or shoes and backpacks with fluorescent and reflective elements," said Cermáková. It also recommends that the baby carriage be made visible - for example by attaching a plush toy of reflective materials.

Directly the obligation to use reflective material elements is for those pedestrians who move outside the village in poor visibility. If they are missing, the policeman may impose a fine of up to CZK 2,000 on the spot (and in the event of an administrative proceeding, the penalty may climb up to five hundred). However, remembering reflective elements is advisable everywhere; in the streets of towns and villages, pedestrians are becoming more troubled than on a free road.

"Last year, pedestrians caused 102 accidents in the Central Bohemia Region; 89 happened in the village, 13 outside," said Čermáková. "In 2017, the police recorded a total of 104 traffic accidents involving pedestrians: 93 of them in the municipality and 11 outside the municipality," she added.

She pointed out that pedestrians could also use a flashlight or phone flashlight to make them easier to see. However, these do not replace the use of mandatory reflective elements; they are only a supplement. "If we only use the flashlight, we shine in one direction, so the driver will not see us from the front or rear. We cannot even rely on the lamp not being discharged - unlike reflective elements that do not need an active source," she explained.

Police cyclists are also reminded of the obligation to have reflectors on the bike at the front, rear, but also in the spokes of the wheels and on both sides of the pedals - and under prescribed illumination also prescribed illumination (which may be so-called blinkers). Even the cyclists recommend the use of reflective elements - with the market also offering a wide range of sportswear directly from such material.

Good rubber for life

Although a glimpse of the tires of cars coming to the parking lots to shopping centers suggests that winter tires with a minimum of 4 mm tread are approached by most drivers, the Central Bohemian police are currently alerting to their use.

Spokeswoman Cermakova said that from November to the end of March the Winter Rubber Road Act prescribes if there is a continuous layer of snow, ice or frost on the road, or due to weather conditions it can be assumed that such a situation may occur while driving. This obligation always applies to sections marked with the Winter equipment (white car with a snowflake in a blue circle), known for example from mountain journeys; regardless of the road surface condition.