6. Adverse Conditions, Efficient Driving and Vulnerable Users

Driving in Adverse Conditions

Adapting your driving to weather and environmental conditions is essential for safety. The most important factor to modify is always speed, reducing it to maintain control of the vehicle at all times.

Rain and Aquaplaning

Rain is one of the most common and dangerous adverse conditions. It reduces tyre grip, decreases visibility and considerably increases braking distance. It is crucial to take the following precautions:

Increase the safety distance: You will need more space to stop safely.
Reduce speed: Adapt your speed to visibility and road conditions.
Drive smoothly: Avoid sudden braking and acceleration.

A specific risk of rain is aquaplaning. It occurs when a layer of water gets between the tyre and the asphalt, causing a total loss of contact and control. If this happens, the correct technique is:

Gently lift your foot off the accelerator.
Hold the steering wheel firmly, without making sudden movements.
Do not brake hard, as it could lock the wheels and worsen the situation.

Fog

Fog drastically reduces visibility and dampens the road, decreasing grip. In fog, especially if it is thick, you must moderate your speed, even if this means driving below the minimum limit allowed on the road. Increase the safety distance to give yourself more reaction time for any unforeseen event.

Snow and Ice

Snow and ice are the most dangerous conditions, as grip can become almost zero. The braking distance is multiplied and the risk of skidding is very high.

Starting off: To prevent the drive wheels from spinning, start off using a higher gear than usual (second instead of first).
Driving: Drive at a very reduced speed and extremely smoothly. Avoid any sudden movement with the steering wheel, accelerator or brake.
Descents and braking: Use low gears to take advantage of "engine braking". This allows you to reduce speed without having to press the brake pedal, which could cause the wheels to lock and loss of control.
Chains: If necessary, chains must always be fitted on the drive wheels.

Strong Wind

Side wind can destabilise the vehicle, especially motorcycles, mopeds and large-volume vehicles. It is especially dangerous when overtaking large vehicles due to the screen effect: while you are alongside, the large vehicle shields you from the wind, but as you pass it, the wind suddenly hits you, potentially deflecting your trajectory. To counteract it, reduce speed and hold the steering wheel firmly, making smooth corrections.

Efficient and Ecological Driving

Efficient driving, also called economical driving, not only helps to reduce fuel consumption and polluting emissions, but also increases road safety, since its principles coincide with those of preventive driving.

Starting and Gear Changes

Modern efficient driving techniques are a key part of the practical and theoretical exam.

Starting the engine: The engine should be started without pressing the accelerator. In petrol engines, you can begin driving immediately.
Use of gears: Use first gear only to start moving. Change to second within a few seconds or metres.
Revolutions for gear changes: This is a fundamental piece of information for the exam.
- In petrol engines, change to a higher gear between 2,000 and 2,500 rpm.
- In diesel engines, change to a higher gear between 1,500 and 2,000 rpm.

The general rule is to drive in the highest possible gear, at low revolutions and at a uniform speed.

Other Saving Techniques

Anticipation and smoothness: Look far ahead and anticipate traffic to avoid unnecessary braking and acceleration.
Deceleration: When approaching a red light or traffic jam, lift your foot off the accelerator in advance and let the vehicle roll on its own inertia (engine braking).
Prolonged stops: If you anticipate a stop of more than 60 seconds, it is advisable to turn off the engine.
Consumption factors: Using the air conditioning, driving with the windows down or carrying a roof rack increase fuel consumption. Incorrect tyre pressure also increases it.

Vulnerable Users

Vulnerable users are those who, in the event of an accident, have a higher risk of suffering serious injuries. They include pedestrians, cyclists and drivers of two-wheeled vehicles (motorcycles, mopeds) and personal mobility vehicles.

Pedestrians

Children and elderly people are the pedestrian groups at greatest risk. Children are unpredictable, while elderly people may have difficulty judging the speed of vehicles. When passing a pedestrian on a road outside built-up areas, it is mandatory to leave a minimum lateral separation of 1.50 metres.

Cyclists

Interaction with cyclists is one of the most important and frequently asked topics in the exam. You must know these rules perfectly:

Lateral overtaking distance: When overtaking a cyclist or a group of cyclists, it is mandatory to leave a minimum lateral separation of 1.50 metres.
Crossing into the opposite direction: To maintain that safety distance, it is permitted to occupy part or all of the opposite direction lane, even if there is a solid line, provided the manoeuvre can be carried out without danger. This is a crucial exception to the general overtaking rule.
Additional precautions: Moderate your speed when overtaking them. Take special care if they are travelling in a group, on steep ascents (where they may zigzag due to effort) or if weather conditions are adverse (wind, rain).
Priority: Cyclists have right of way on duly signposted cycle lanes.

Motorcycle and Moped Riders

They are very vulnerable due to their lack of bodywork and lower stability. In the city, they often brake more sharply than a car, so it is vital to maintain an adequate safety distance to avoid a rear-end collision. Light-coloured or eye-catching helmets increase their visibility and, therefore, their safety.