Look for the clues
- Gravel and sand: common at junctions, driveways, bends after roadworks and on the edge of the road.
- Wet paint and metal: road markings, manhole covers, tram or train tracks and metal plates are slippery when wet.
- Tar strips and patches: repair lines can be slippery in the heat or after rain.
- Potholes and ridges: hard to see in shade or at night, and they can upset the bike.
- Leaves, mud and oil: especially in autumn, on farm roads and at the centre of lanes where cars drip oil.
- Wet surfaces after a dry spell: the first rain can lift dust and oil and make a road very slippery.
How to cross a hazard
- Slow down in good time, before you reach it, and not on it.
- Keep the bike upright and as straight as you can, and avoid braking or sharp throttle changes while on it.
- Cross rails and ridges as close to a right angle as is safe, and relax your grip so the bars can move.
- Look at where you want to go, not at the hazard itself.
Plan around them
- Allow extra distance to the vehicle in front, so you can see the road surface.
- Be careful in bends where you cannot see the surface, and after roadworks.
- Check your tyres and keep them at the right pressure. Tyre condition matters most on poor surfaces.
See also our guides on riding in the rain and tyre care.
If a road looks too risky, it is fine to slow right down, to stop, or to choose another route.