CAN WE DO AWAY WITH SPLASH AND SPRAY?

WHEN PROPERLY INSTALLED FOR HEIGHT, DISTANCE FROM TIRE, RIGIDITY, WIDTH, ANGLE, AND SO ON, THE MUDFLAP IS THE BEST REMEDY FOR TRUCK SPLASH AND SPRAY. HOWEVER, WHEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED THESE FLAPS COMPOUND THE PROBLEM. ACCORDINGLY, THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN SEEKING FOR SEVERAL YEARS A BETTER ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM. SIDE MOUNTED FENDERS HAVE BEEN FOUND TO CAUSE BRAKE FADE AND HOT TIRES. THE WESTERN HIGHWAY INSTITUTE HAS UNDERTAKEN A RESEARCH PROGRAM TO STUDY THE PROBLEM. TENTATIVE FINDINGS ARE THE FOLLOWING: (1) A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL SPLASH AND SPRAY FROM A LARGE TRUCK COMES FROM THE FRONT AXLE AND THE DRIVE AXLE. (2) TREAD PATTERN AND DEPTH INFLUENCE THE INTENSITY OF SPLASH AND SPRAY. DESIGNS OF TIRE MANUFACTURERS TO MEET THIS PROBLEM RUN UP AGAINST NOISE REGULATIONS. GOOD TRACTION IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF GOOD SPLASH AND SPRAY PREVENTION. (3) WINDSHIELD-HEIGHT SPRAY COMES FROM THE TOP OF A LARGE TRUCK TIRE, ESPECIALLY WHEN TANDEM AXLES ARE USED. (4) TROUGHS AND CHANNELS TO COLLECT WATER THAT WOULD OTHERWISE FALL BACK ONTO THE PAVEMENT TEND TO FILL UP WITH GRAVEL, DIRT, AND ICE, CREATING A WORSE CONDITION THAN USUAL FOR FOLLOWING VEHICLES BY FORMING A "ROOSTER TAIL" LIKE THAT BEHIND A SPEEDBOAT. (5) WIND DEFLECTORS ON CABS AND TRAILER SIDES OBSCURE THE REAR VISION MIRROR ON TRUCK-TRACTOR. (6) AIR SCOOPS OR COMPRESSED AIR DUCTS TO DIRECT THE SPRAY INWARD MAY BE A PARTIAL ANSWER, PERHAPS IN COMBINATION WITH AN OPEN MESH SCREEN OR NET TO KEEP WATER FROM SPRAYING AT THE REAR OF THE TRUCK. (7) NO IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONVENTIONAL REAR-MOUNTED MUDFLAP CAN BE EXPECTED. AT PRESENT THE MOST EFFECTIVE MEANS OF REDUCING SPLASH AND SPRAY IS TO REDUCE SPEED. IT HAS ALSO BEEN FOUND THAT PAVEMENT MACROTECTURE IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THE DRAINAGE OF WATER FROM THE TIRE--PAVEMENT INTERFACE, INCREASING IN IMPORTANCE AS SPEED AND WATER DEPTHS INCREASE. THE FLAT CROSSSLOPE SPECIFIED FOR THE INTERSTATE SYSTEM ALSO INHIBITS PAVEMENT DRAINAGE, AS DOES PAVEMENT CURL AT THE OUTER EDGE OF CONCRETE SLABS AND SHOULDERS BUILT HIGHER THAN THE PAVEMENT EDGE.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00410721
• Supplemental Notes:
  • pp 24-26, 38, 1 PHOT
• Publication Date: 1971-11

Media Info

• Serial:
  • Traffic Safety (Chicago)
  • Volume: 71
  • Issue Number: 11
  • Publisher: National Safety Council
  • ISSN: 0041-0721

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Design; Hazards; Moisture content; Prevention; Splash guard; Splashing; Sprays (Materials); Trucks
• Uncontrolled Terms: Wet conditions
• Old TRIS Terms: Splash
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Motor Carriers; Operations and Traffic Management; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00226253
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 1 1972 12:00AM