New road safety warning with icy roads and hail showers expected

With Met Éireann predicting wintry showers of hail this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is advising drivers to be aware of the dangers posed by hailstones.

Hail is a common but unpredictable occurrence in Ireland, and can lead to slippery and dangerous driving conditions.

This is especially true on higher-speed roads like dual carriageways or motorways.

Met Éireann is forecasting cold weather throughout the weekend, with temperatures expected to fall below freezing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, leading to icy stretches in some places.

The RSA has the following advice for drivers dealing with hail showers, which can be unpredictable and localised in nature:

* Reduce your speed, without breaking if possible. Warn other drivers by using your hazard warning lights.

* Driving slowly in a high gear will help your tyres maintain grip even as your tyres move over the compacted pellets of ice.

* Accelerate and brake very gently and drive slowly on bends where loss of control is more likely. Avoid sudden steering movements or hard braking.

* Keep an eye out for road markings that may become obscured and leave plenty of distance between you and the vehicle in front.

* Drivers are also advised to make sure their tyres are fit for purpose, ie., that they are not below the legal minimum tread depth (1.6mm) and that they are inflated to the correct pressure, so they can cope better with such challenging driving conditions.