12.2 Rain, Night, Breakdowns and Emergencies

Conditions on the island can change in minutes: a tropical downpour, a flash flood, a breakdown on a busy highway. The regulation test checks that you know how to drive in difficult conditions and what to do when something goes wrong.

Rain

• The first shower is the worst. After a dry spell, oil and dust on the road mix with the first rain to make a slippery film. Slow down, and brake, steer and accelerate gently.
• Double the gap. Keep at least a four-second gap on wet roads (see 6.2).
• Aquaplaning. At speed, a layer of water can lift the tyres off the road, so that the steering goes light. Ease off the accelerator. Do not brake hard or steer sharply until the tyres grip again.
• Visibility. Use your wipers and demister. Switch on dipped headlights in heavy rain so that others see you, but do not use main beam into spray.

Floods

• Never drive into deep or fast-moving water. It can stall the engine, lift the vehicle and sweep it away, and it can hide washed-out road.
• In shallow water, drive slowly in first gear with the engine revving a little, so that water does not enter the exhaust. Avoid creating a bow wave that soaks pedestrians or swamps other vehicles.
• Test your brakes afterwards by braking gently a few times until they work normally.

Night driving

• Headlights must be on at night and must light the road for at least 100 metres (reg. 22(8)). Dim them for oncoming vehicles (reg. 31(23)).
• Drive so that you can stop within the distance your lights show to be clear.
• If dazzled, slow down and look towards the left edge of the road.
• Watch for pedestrians, cyclists and animals on unlit roads (see 10.1 to 10.3).

Steep hills and wind

• Descending: select a lower gear before you start down, so that engine braking helps. Continuous braking overheats the brakes ("brake fade").
• Ascending: change down early to keep the engine pulling. On narrow hills, be ready to give way to vehicles coming the other way.
• Strong winds: hold the wheel firmly, and give extra room to cyclists, motorcyclists and high-sided vehicles.

Breakdowns: the legal duty (s.89)

Section 89 of the Road Traffic Act says no one in charge of a vehicle may let it, or its trailer, remain stationary on a road in a position, condition or circumstances likely to cause danger or obstruction. If your vehicle breaks down:

1. Get it as near as possible to the left side of the road, off the carriageway if you can. Section 89(2) requires you to take immediate steps to have it removed there.
2. Show its presence "by lighting or otherwise": switch on your hazard warning lights, use side lights at night, and place a warning triangle well behind the vehicle if you have one.
3. Get passengers out on the side away from traffic, and wait in a safe place away from the vehicle, not behind it.
4. Arrange removal promptly. A police officer or the Chief Technical Officer may require you to remove it, and may remove it at the owner's cost (s.89(3) to (5)). The penalty for breaching s.89 is a fine of BBD $200 or 3 months.

Do not stop on the Spring Garden Highway except in a genuine emergency, because stopping and waiting there are prohibited.

Emergencies

Refuelling safely

Switch off the engine before filling, and never smoke or use a naked flame near a petrol station or while filling (reg. 33).

Emergency vehicles

Remember regulation 32: when an emergency vehicle approaches with siren or flashing lamps, pull close to the left, stop, dim your lights at night and stay stopped until it passes (see 10.4).