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Question

Difficulty: MediumTraffic Calming and Road Surfaces

You are driving along an urban road in wet conditions where tram lines are set flush into the tarmac. What should you do when you need to drive across the metal tram rails?

  1. A
    Brake firmly whilst driving parallel along the top of the rails to test tyre grip
  2. Cross the rails as close to a right angle as possible at a steady speedAnswer
  3. C
    Depress the clutch pedal and coast across the wet rails to prevent tyre spin
  4. D
    Accelerate sharply at a shallow angle to clear the metal surface quickly

Answer

Cross the rails as close to a right angle as possible at a steady speed
Crossing wet tram rails as close to a right angle as possible ensures the vehicle's tyres cross the low-grip metal quickly and prevents the tyres from sliding along the track or catching in the rail grooves. Keeping a steady speed without harsh braking or rapid acceleration preserves maximum tyre grip.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Assess the surface hazard presented by wet metal tram rails embedded in the road.
Recognise that wet steel offers very low grip compared to asphalt and that rail grooves can catch or deflect vehicle tyres.
Rain dramatically lowers friction on polished metal surfaces, creating an immediate skid hazard.
2
Adjust vehicle approach angle and maintain smooth control inputs.
Steer across the rails as close to a 90-degree angle as traffic conditions allow, keeping throttle and steering steady without abrupt braking.
Crossing perpendicular to the tracks ensures tyres spend minimal time on the low-grip surface and prevents them from tracking along the groove.

Key Concept

Safely crossing wet metal tram rails and low-friction road surfaces
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Traffic Calming and Road Surfaces

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