Driving on Gravel roads presents its own challenges. While the WRC drivers make it look fun and easy, the difficulty to get necessary traction can catch even the most confident road drivers out. As a result, understeer and oversteer can sometimes send your vehicle in an unintended direction. If you are driving on gravel roads for the first time, read the tips mentioned below which can help you effectively overcome the challenges of driving on gravel roads.
What should I do before starting a gravel road trip?
Make sure to carry all necessary equipment including runflat tyres, or ensure your spare and necessary tools to change it are ready, as flat tires are a common scenario on gravel roads. Check the weather conditions and read about the route you are going to travel. Fill up your petrol tank as the nearest gas station might be miles away. Make sure your vehicle is ready. An ideal vehicle for some of NZ’s gravel roads is the iconic Subaru Legacy, driven by the famous Possum Bourne.
What speed should you maintain when driving on gravel roads?
Maintain a slower speed as most gravel roads are narrow and unpredictable at very high speeds. Traction is not uniform on all four wheels and even highly experienced drivers tend to make mistakes.
Usually gravel roads have speed limits in the range of 80 – 100kph. Since the roads are not paved, controlling the car at high speeds might be difficult. It also causes skidding due to the nature of the surface. When a vehicle is heading towards you, reduce your speed and watch out for the side of the road where it may begin to taper.
What is Oversteer?
Over-steer can be a common occurrence in rear-wheel drive, or to a lesser extent, 4×4 cars. It happens when too much throttle is applied late in a corner, which causes the rear wheels to lose traction and slide out to the side. The car then turns more than expected, and can spin out. To control it, remove your foot from the accelerator and turn the wheels in the opposite direction.
What is Understeer?
Under-steer is more typical in a front wheel drive car, but can happen in all vehicles. It will typically occur when the driver of a car tries to turn in too quickly while braking, and the car’s momentum carries on straight. To get out, straighten up the wheels and lighten up on the brakes to allow the front wheels to gain traction again.
Should you follow the established road?
It’s recommended to stay on the road. While you may see rally cars cutting corners, this is not safe to do on public gravel roads as other cars may be coming round the corner. When moving into or away from a gravel road, make sure you provide gentle steering inputs to make the transition smoother.
How should you control your acceleration on gravel?
Sudden accelerations and braking should be avoided. If you feel you are about to lose control, stop your acceleration input and try to steer gently. Make sure you regain control and follow your intended path. Do not swerve as sudden changes to your steering might unsettle your car’s direction.
Always maintain a larger distance to the vehicle in front as braking can sometimes be unpredictable when driving on gravel roads. Apply the 4-second rule, similar to driving on wet roads. Dust and stones can get thrown up by a vehicle in front and affect your visibility when you drive closer to the car in front.
Most accidents on gravel roads occur due to sudden driver inputs which sends the vehicle out of control. Take utmost care when driving downhill or uphill on narrow roads. Stay on your side of the road to not surprise any approaching vehicles. Enter and exit intersections at slower speeds.
How can you avoid a flat tyre?
If you are about to travel on a gravel road, make sure that all four tires have sufficient tread. Off-road tyres are another option that fare better on gravel roads. Good tyres prevent the likelihood of getting a flat tyre. Tyres wear out faster when you are driving longer on gravel roads. The tread of the tyre becomes flatter when you drive aggressively.
What should you do when your vehicle gets out of control?
This can happen sometimes due to the unpredictability of the road surface. You should take your foot off the accelerator and brakes and provide smooth steering inputs. Once you bring the vehicle to a halt at the roadside, you can relax and proceed further.
Enjoy your adventure. Usually gravel roads have hidden gems at the end of them!