Drivers tend to be more cautious during winter, but summer heat waves can spawn road conditions that are just as hazardous.
"Heat can cause asphalt to soften up and 'bleed,' which makes roads slick and causes drivers to lose traction," says transportation materials expert Norbert Delatte, Ph.D., in the UAB Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
'Blow-ups' on bridges and roads are another danger. "Blow-ups occur when joints and connections expand from the heat. The expansion has to go somewhere and can cause the concrete or asphalt to break away."
Delatte advises drivers to be on the lookout for deep ruts wherever there are slow-moving or stopped heavy trucks on asphalt. "Intersections with stop lights are a good example."
Contact Jennifer Park, Media Relations, 205-934-3888 or [email protected].
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