As the summer heat made itself felt, the damages on the roads began to threaten driving safety. Safe Driving Experts draw attention to the fact that heavy tonnage trucks and construction machines traveling on the roads with the rising temperature also damage the asphalt and put road safety at risk.
Asphalt is melting in our southern cities
In cities such as Antalya and Muğla, surface damage caused by temperatures reaching 40 degrees on the roads extends the braking distance and negatively affects the road holding of the vehicles.
Safe Driving Specialist Erhan Arıkan drew attention to the damage caused by the heat and said, “High temperatures cause serious damage to asphalt surfaces and pose a safety risk for drivers. Hot air causes asphalt surfaces to expand. Asphalt expands by heating with the effect of the sun and as a result of this expansion, cracks, crevices and deteriorations occur. Cracks formed on the surface may deepen over time and reduce the stability of the road. Especially on roads with heavy traffic, the cracks may worsen with the passage of vehicles and the usability of the road may decrease. Deteriorated asphalt surfaces can create a slippery surface for drivers and increase braking distances. Also, drivers can lose control and lose balance of their vehicles due to cracks and crevices. This can lead to an increase in traffic accidents and injuries.” said.
Heavy tonnage trucks and construction equipment reduce asphalt quality
With the developments in the construction sector and the increase in logistics activities, the use of construction machinery and heavy tonnage vehicles is also becoming widespread. However, these vehicles can cause serious damage to asphalt roads and threaten the safety of road users.
Pointing out that this situation has been overlooked, Safe Driving Specialist Erhan Arıkan warns the drivers. Arikan; “Construction machines and heavy-duty vehicles put pressure on asphalt surfaces due to their excessive weight and heavy wheel traffic. This constant pressure leads to deformation of the asphalt and the formation of cracks. In addition, the frequent maneuvering or turning of vehicles can cause marks and deterioration on the asphalt surface. These damages reduce the usability of asphalt roads, jeopardize the safety of drivers and increase maintenance and repair costs. For this reason, construction equipment and heavy tonnage vehicles need to move more controlled on asphalt roads. Especially in our southern cities where the temperature rises, this may pose much more risks.” said.
Motorcyclists and cyclists should also be careful.
Rough roads also pose a great danger to other road users such as motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians. There may be loss of control and increased risk of injury or death due to potholes or uneven surfaces of roads.
Safe Driving Specialist Erhan Arıkan, who has made it his duty to contribute to raising awareness of the society on driving safety; invited local governments, road maintenance and repair companies and related organizations to closely monitor the status of asphalt roads and take necessary precautions during hot weather periods.
