SPLASH AND SPRAY BY LORRIES

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 like 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 for the road and measures for the vehicle. Improvements for the road may be aimed at the prevention of the presence of water layers on the road. Changes on the vehicle can be divided into improvements for the tyres, aerodynamics and for the wheels. Besides energy saving, aerodynamic devices can be a means to diminish the spray and to prevent zones of low pressure at the wheels. For each type of vehicle different types of devices will be necessary. It is useful to make a difference between trucks and articulated vehicles. Shields on the wheels can be easily installed at low costs, and they can be lightweight. Further research should be done on the effect of the development of heat in the brakes when such shields are applied. The relationship between the amount of splash and spray and the visual hindrance is still insufficiently studied. The relationship is not linear. A study on the improvement of the efficiency of windscreen wipers is also recommended.

• Corporate Authors:

  Institute for Road Safety Research, SWOV

  Bezuidenhoutseweg 62
  The Hague,   Netherlands  2594 AW
• Authors:
  • Tromp, JPM
• Publication Date: 1985

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 24 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aerodynamics; Crashes; Future; Highway safety; Prevention; Research; Splash guard; Splashing; Surface drainage; Tires; Trucks; Wheels
• Uncontrolled Terms: Articulated vehicles; Future research; Spray control
• Old TRIS Terms: Aerodynamic configurations
• Subject Areas: Highways; Motor Carriers; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00491820
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: R-85-5, HS-040 060
• Files: HSL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Mar 31 1990 12:00AM