EM - December/January 2015 - (Page 26)

26 Dec/Jan 2015 www.esb.ie/em HEALTH & HABITAT Image in-box DRIVING IN FLOODING AND HEAVY RAINFALL By Grainne Coogan a selection of your photography 1. 2. ROAD SAFETY BUREAU 3. 5. 4. IN EXTREME WEATHER conditions it is best to avoid making a journey by road unless absolutely necessary. If driving in such conditions is unavoidable be prepared. The golden rule is drive with care and caution - expect the unexpected. Here are some useful tips: Check the local and national weather forecasts or visit Met Eireann's website www.meteireann.ie for updates. Dublin Bridges on the Liffey by Sandra Ryan 1. Farmleigh 2. O'Donovan Rossa 3. Rory O'Moore 4. Samuel Beckett 5. Westlink ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS... By Dave Walshe WE ALL HAVE dream presents we want for Christmas. Some, if not all, are unrealistic and unattainable. That doesn't stop us dreaming though, does it? Well Alfa Romeo have done something truly remarkable. They have created a supercar to match your Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Porsches for executive car money. It's called the 4C and not only is it at a price that a lot of people who could never afford a Ferrari could afford, it is one of the best looking cars on the market, nay planet. The sticker price for this car is €70,000. Big money I know but when compared to other cars in the BMW/ Audi/Merc category what you get here is shockingly affordable. I mean it has a carbon fibre chassis straight from F1! I got to drive this car for a day on Irish roads in left hand drive guise. To say that the experience exceeded the anticipation is an understatement. For sheer acceleration performance I have never experienced anything like it before - it was instant. It sounded like a supercar too, which was quite mesmerising. Everywhere I went I felt like a pop star or a football player. I was literally mobbed.As soon as it was parked, a crowd gathered fawning all over it demanding answers to every question. I took the car over the mountains to Glendalough and if ever there was a test for a car to see how it performs, this road is it. It did two things. Gripped and gripped. It would never get out of sorts with the driving ability I possess. For the technically minded the figures are 0-100 km/hr in 4.5 seconds with a top speed of 250kmh but this car is much, much more than those numbers. For everyone else - just stare. For once the description 'epic' is totally justified. My letter has already gone to Santa but it will be 2016 before he can bring me one as there is a huge waiting list. n Drivers * Driving in such conditions will result in reduced visibility. Flooding and slippery road surfaces make driving particularly hazardous * Allow extra distance between you and the vehicle in front. Take special care when driving behind goods vehicles as they generate a considerable amount of spray which reduces your visibility * Watch out for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists * Use dipped headlights at all times of poor visibility * Check tyres to ensure minimum tread depth of 1.6mm and guarantee correct tyre pressures * Drive with care and caution - expect the unexpected * After going through water, drive slowly with your foot on the brake pedal for a short distance - this helps to dry the brakes. It only takes six inches of water before a driver can lose control of a small vehicle. If it is necessary to drive during flooding, the following precautions can be taken: * Leave early to avoid being marooned on flooded roads and always ensure you have enough fuel for your car * Sometimes roads can be closed due to their fragile state after wet weather or because they are blocked by flooding. Road users should always follow recommended routes and obey signs closing roads to traffic * Watch out for washed out roads, earthslides, broken water or sewer mains, loose or downed electrical wires, and fallen or falling objects * Be aware where rivers or streams may suddenly rise and flood, for example highway dips, bridge, and low areas * If the road ahead is flooded choose another route, do not attempt to drive over it. Flooded roads that appear shallow could be deeper than you think. It is easy to underestimate the power of fast moving water. n For more information email esbroadsafetybureau@esb.ie or visit the ESB Road Safety Bureau Website: http:// esbnet/esbroadsafetybureau/ Courtesy of Road Safety Authority Tel. (096) 25008 Website: www.rsa.ie Email: info@rsa.ie http://www.esb.ie/em http://www.meteireann.ie http://www.meteireann.ie http://esbnet/esbroadsafetybureau/ http://esbnet/esbroadsafetybureau/ http://www.rsa.ie

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of EM - December/January 2015

News
Innovation
Generation & Wholesale Markets
BSC & Electric Ireland
EBS Networks Ltd
Health & Habitat

EM - December/January 2015