Please someone,when it's windy and you're driving why do you have to slow down?

Question

I was driving back across the M4 Second Severn Crossing Bridge early this morning,signs said slow down to 50 miles per hour.Is there an expert in vector analysis who could explain the theory(briefly)why slow speeds are safer in blustery conditions.Oh by the way, a tornado in Cwmbran would be more than welcome(better than that stupid bloomin' poodle).

Answer 1

It is elementary, my dear Watson, as Mr Holmes would say.

You do not know what direction the blustery wind is blowing. When you are in full acceleration mode, your tires have the least amount of contact on the paved road.

Ergo ,, your vehicle can be hit squarely on the side by a crosswind and it can literally place you in the middle of the next lane or smack into the abutment or side of the bridge.

I have driven over bridges close to the Pacific coast where there are no signs similar to what you have noted and have felt the wind lift up my light weight vehicle seemingly from underneath. The loss of control, though momentary (split seconds) was scary .I have been so grateful that usually there are no other vehicles on the bridge with me.

Maybe you drive a heavy one ton or 2 ton vehicle and you feel that this rule doesnt apply to you, but if there were lightweights beside you, you might still end up in a big pile with them.

As for the blooming poodle, lol, That is something Id like to see.

Answer 2

First you are on a bridge and think about this for a minute,the faster you go the easier It Is to get into and accident and as In an airplane they have a take off spead,If the wind blows your car It has less resistance when you are going slow then If you are going fast

Answer 3

If there is an accident caused by the wind people will be able to respond better if they are going slower. If a lorry blows over for example it would be better to be going 50 and avoid it than hit it travelling at 70.

Answer 4

Because of crosswinds.

When you drive above speeds of 90 km/h aerodynamic forces come into effect on the car, meaning that air passing over, under & around your car has an effect on its performance & handling.

On a windy day, cross winds can blow onto you and alter the way that air passing from the direction of travel holds your car to the road. ie it can blow your car off course because there is more wind from the sides than there is from the front, and your car is more aerodynamic from the front than from the side.

Answer 5

The next time it says that on the M4 Severn crossing brdge and on the M4 Bridge between J41-J42 - you try goin 70mph+

Answer 6

im studyin applied mathetics at the moment and this example falls into wats called relative velocity. basically the faster you go the stronger the wind appears. if you stopped still the wind relative to you would be x...if you doubled your speed the speed of the wind would be 2x. an example is if you walk or run in the rain...if you run the same distance in the rain and you walk the same distanc you will in fact be wetter after running.

Answer 7

i think you have no common sense the reason that they make you slow down is that with the right speed and high wind you can lose control of you car you can even flip you car(if you go fast you can create lift in high winds)so be a safe driver and follow the sings because you not just putting you life in danger but other people life's too be safe and take care

Answer 8

on a bridge, the wind and high speed might add to the stress on the bridge itself
and depending on what car you drive, you might have less control (I've got a baja beetle, very little steering control) so during high winds, my car sometimes goes off the road

Answer 9

Gives you more time to react and sort things out if the wind tries to blow you off course.

Bridges, like motorway embankments and the like are prone to wind problems - well, you know what I mean - due to being very exposed.

It's not a stupid question, if you didn't know you wouldn't ask.

Answer 10

Usually the faster you go the more lift under the car. Ever notice that indy cars have huge wings on the front and rear?? That is to keep the car glued to the pavement. The more lift the easier it is to flip.