Accidents caused by splash and spray are possibly underestimated in statistics, being classified, as they mostly are, as skidding accidents or rain and wet road accidents. In general, such a specific problem has a relatively low rate in accident statistics. The problem often arises in critical circumstances such as rain, wind and overtaking. The splash and spray is caused by lorries mainly. Measures to prevent or decrease splash and spray can be divided into measures related to the road and measures related to the vehicle. Improvements for the road may be aimed at the prevention of the presence of films of water on the road. Changes to the vehicle can be divided into improvements of the tyres, aerodynamics and of the wheels. Besides saving energy, aerodynamic devices can be a means of diminishing the spray and of preventing zones of low pressure in the wheels. Different types of devices will be necessary for each type of vehicle. It is useful to make a difference between lorries and articulated vehicles. Shields on the wheels can be easily fitted at low costs, and they can be of light weight material. Further research should be carried out on the effect of the development of heat in the brakes when such shields are used. The relationship between the amount of splash and spray and visual hindrance has not been sufficiently studied. The relationship is not linear. A study of the improvement of the efficiency of windscreen wipers is also recommended. The report is an english translation of PB 23584 (IRRD 279684).
Abstract