Yes, I know that's today's statement of the bleeding obvious, but the message isn't getting through.

 

This morning we had our first rain for a looong time, just a gentle sprinkling.

 

In the space of our run to the farm shop (about 20km round trip) we saw:-

• A loaded 6-wheel truck swapping ends, luckily rotating very gently and staying between the barriers (it did cause some consternation to the chicken-on-a-stick lady who was bagging up my breakfast).
• Two pickups in the ditch (no trees were injured, trucks not so lucky).
• Two 3 or more vehicle shunts (too close, too fast).
• Half a dozen motorcyclists dusting themselves off after taking an unscheduled trip on their rear.

Even driving gently the ABS and traction control was winking its light at me.

 

If you are on one(?), two, three, four or more wheels take care out there, it's more slippy than it looks. 

Had some rain here as well. But not enough to clean everything thoroughly.

Yep, first rain here in months, what a relief.  Cat is sitting outside taking it all in, the birds are quiet for a change and the grass looks greener.  I also don't have to top up the pool water today.  Bliss. But how long will the electricity stay on, and/or the internet, even if the elect keeps going. Haha, as I am typing this, the electricity gave a big wobble.  

Light rain after long dry period results in film of oil making it extremely slick.  Had my first accident on such in 1966 and was not alone - police had handful of report forms going from one to another as anyone trying stop went into slide mode - and I was from New England so had experience driving on ice - but oil slick road is much more of a danger as you most often do not know it.

1 hour ago, lopburi3 said:

Light rain after long dry period results in film of oil making it extremely slick.  Had my first accident on such in 1966 and was not alone - police had handful of report forms going from one to another as anyone trying stop went into slide mode - and I was from New England so had experience driving on ice - but oil slick road is much more of a danger as you most often do not know it.

Phx Arizona is notorious for that

raining a bit somewhere but not here.

I had a fleet of 24 vans at one point and the days I sweated most were the first snowfall of winter and the first rain, especially a light rain after a dry spell. That road film of oil, rubber and whatever else dripped of countless cars and trucks is like wet ice but most drivers are totally unaware of how slippery it is till the first time they have to hit the brakes.  I would be on the 2-way all day, nagging my drivers like a mother-in-law to take it slow and easy.

5 hours ago, Crossy said:

it's more slippery than it looks. 

Yeah the road grease and dust on many tarmac roads will need a good dowsing lots of wheels over it to get it back to gribby wet, even so called red tarmac bits on bends which are supposed to be not affected as much, don't trust them either.

10 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

Yeah the road grease and dust on many tarmac roads will need a good dowsing lots of wheels over it to get it back to gribby wet, even so called red tarmac bits on bends which are supposed to be not affected as much, don't trust them either.

 

Indeed, the damping this morning was of the worst kind, just enough to wet the surface without actually washing anything off.

 

Tropical skating anyone?

 

Ten years ago my wife and I took a round trip from Hua Hin to Ratchaburi to Amphoe Pa Wai and back.

 

It was late February and the fist rain for months and I was cautious. En-route we counted 14 vehicles (all pick-ups) in roadside or central ditches most on their sides many upside down.

 

They never learn.

6 minutes ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

They never learn.

They had forgotten and with tyres at 55 psi all round it's skating time.

5 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

Light rain after long dry period results in film of oil making it extremely slick.  Had my first accident on such in 1966 and was not alone - police had handful of report forms going from one to another as anyone trying stop went into slide mode - and I was from New England so had experience driving on ice - but oil slick road is much more of a danger as you most often do not know it.

wrote off my first new car in  Malta on a September day when it rained for the first time in months.  I certainly learnt a lot that day, like a Fiat 128 in a spin is no match for a Maltese Bus.  

4 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

wrote off my first new car in  Malta on a September day when it rained for the first time in months.  I certainly learnt a lot that day, like a Fiat 128 in a spin is no match for a Maltese Bus.  

Mine was 65 Mustang going North through Baltimore tunnel - was dry on South side and light fast traffic but just after exit car in fast lane was stopped to view accidents in South lanes - my breaking went into slide and tried to avoid using slow lane and got all but final 4 inches of my car around him.  Only had small dent on rear quarter panel but other car was not driveable as his motor moved off mounts (hit was not that hard).  Anyhow police provided paperwork for him to claim from my insurance and advised no citation involved.  This was a private toll road and learned later known for being extremely slippery.  In the time waiting (about an hour) there were at least a dozen more accidents in that immediate area.  

19 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

Mine was 65 Mustang going North through Baltimore tunnel - was dry on South side and light fast traffic but just after exit car in fast lane was stopped to view accidents in South lanes - my breaking went into slide and tried to avoid using slow lane and got all but final 4 inches of my car around him.  Only had small dent on rear quarter panel but other car was not driveable as his motor moved off mounts (hit was not that hard).  Anyhow police provided paperwork for him to claim from my insurance and advised no citation involved.  This was a private toll road and learned later known for being extremely slippery.  In the time waiting (about an hour) there were at least a dozen more accidents in that immediate area.  

I don't think my little Fiat quite compared to your muscle car.  I was a tad upset when I hit the bus with it; I would have been suicidal had I written off a Mustang. 

40 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

I don't think my little Fiat quite compared to your muscle car.  I was a tad upset when I hit the bus with it; I would have been suicidal had I written off a Mustang. 

But in those days that Mustang convertible 289 V8 only cost $3,500 and down was about $500 (with many payments pending).  Ended up in ME I suspect (sold to Lebanese in Germany after using there 2 years) - one remembers their first car.  

To the op, where do the 'we' live so the rest of us mortals know where the sprinkle sprinkled.

38 minutes ago, fantom said:

To the op, where do the 'we' live so the rest of us mortals know where the sprinkle sprinkled.

 

Sorry, I should have mentioned, we're in Pathum Thani

 

 

When it does eventually rain,the roads get really slippery because of the dust.its the same in Spain !


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1 minute ago, KC 71 said:

When it does eventually rain,the roads get really slippery because of the dust.its the same in Spain !

 

Is that mainly in the plain?

 

Here it's a mix of oil, rubber and dirt that gets like ice when damp.

1 hour ago, lopburi3 said:

But in those days that Mustang convertible 289 V8 only cost $3,500

What cost $3500 in 1965 would cost $28187.31 in 2018

 
Is that mainly in the plain?
 
Here it's a mix of oil, rubber and dirt that gets like ice when damp.

Lots of diesel spilled on corners...very dangerous for motorbikes...and the ever present sand/dust you almost have to drive on the "racing line" or risk sliding off the road !

That will fix it.

I learned this lesson in my early 20's driving the freeways in Houston Texas. It rains frequently there but there is so much traffic that the roads were oily slick EVERY TIME  it rained. 

We were coming back from Chumphon to Chaam on Saturday and drove thru the same rain. My Thai GF is the model of safe driving and was proceeding cautiously. Sure enough, we passed one area with multiple cars in the median ditch, some overturned. It is clear that they were bumper-humpers traveling in 'pack mode' and they paid the price. 

 

As we continued we had a conversation about the cars ahead of us traveling rapidly in their own little knot and the wisdom of driving the 'holes ' in traffic. The concept of defensive driving practice has no place in Thai culture. 

On the other hand I guess you could say anybody on the roads here is driving defensively if they arrive at their destination intact. 

Trying to walk back to the in-laws house years ago along some greasy clay track at 8am and sliding from one side of the track to the other. The misses greets me with "you are so embarrassing, drunk at this hour" 

I hadn't had a drink, just trying to get home.