Motorists advised to take extra care after gale warning
Met Éireann has predicted that southerly winds, later veering west, will reach speeds of 85km/h today with gusts of up to 140km/h.
The highest gusts will be along exposed coasts and over high ground.
Some flooding is likely with rainfall of up to 30mm possible over much of Connacht, west Munster and west Ulster with totals of up to 20mm elsewhere.
And very high seas of between eight to 10 metres over the open sea, may cause additional flooding in exposed coastal areas.
The RSA advises motorists driving in stormy conditions that speed can be their enemy because it takes a vehicle longer to stop.
It urges motorists to slow down and allow extra distance between their vehicle and the one in front.
They should also watch out for falling or fallen debris and for vehicles veering across the road.
High-sided vehicles and motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to strong winds and special care needs to be taken when driving behind goods vehicles because they generate a lot of spray that can reduce visibility.
Car drivers should also allow extra space between their vehicle and vulnerable road users such as cyclists and motorcyclists.
The RSA urges motorists to ensure that car tyres have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm and are at the correct pressure and to use dipped headlights at all times.
After going through water, drive slowly with your foot on the brake pedal for a short distance — this helps to dry the brakes.
Pedestrians and cyclists are urged to take extra care when near traffic or crossing a road as a sudden gust could blow them into the path of an incoming vehicle.
Motorists are also strongly advised to choose another route if the road ahead is flooded because flooded roads that appear shallow could be deeper.
On treacherous roads motorists should drive as slowly as possible in the lowest practical gear, even if they are the only vehicle on the road.
Apart from checking the speed of the vehicle, motorists also need to consider the way they handle the car as a whole.
met.ie; rsa.ie
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