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[ST] Fw: [safespeed] PR287: URGENT WARNING: Very low road grip widely reported



Riders in the UK should be aware of this......................


This message has been forwarded to you by "Mike Bostock"
<sprint-st@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
The original sender was safespeed@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

PR287: URGENT WARNING: Very low road grip widely reported

news: for immediate release

The Safe Speed road safety campaign today issued an urgent warning to all
road
users of unusual low grip conditions. All road users need to take special
care because of a greatly increased risk of skidding.

This follows anecdotal reports from all over the country of dangerous and
unusual road conditions. New de-icer compounds may be to blame. Low
rainfall
may have contributed.

Drivers and cyclists are reporting that road grip levels are far below
norms
and expectations even where roads appear to be dry and temperatures are
well
above freezing. Cyclists have reported falling off and motorists have
reported
unexpected skidding.

The unusual low grip conditions are suspected to be due to the use of
de-icer
compounds that include molasses to stabilise the treatment layer. This
innovation is intended to reduce costs and reduce the need for repeated
treatments.

To make matters worse, reports suggest that grip levels are variable as
well
as low. This is the worst possible case because it can and will 'catch us
out'.

Paul Smith, founder of the Safe Speed road safety campaign
(www.safespeed.org.uk) said: "It looks as if a very large and dangerous
mistake may have been made. The use of mollases in de-icer compounds must
be
suspended immediately pending testing and investigation. Lives may well
depend
on it. All road users need to take special care. Braking distances may be
greatly increased, and cornering may cause skidding at unusually low
speeds.
Wheel spin may result from acceleration even in higher gears."

"If the reports are correct - and we have no reason to doubt them - we must
have a public investigation concerning how this situation came about. If
the
de-icer compounds are responsible we must test such innovations much more
carefully in the future."




-- 
Mike Bostock
mike@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Mid Devon, UK
N50.79155 W3.66646
Wales and SW ST Riders
http://www.sprint-st.org/

'99 Red ST


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