With autumn's reduced visibility and falling leaves causing slippery roads and tracks, the Brussels public transport company STIB is urging people to be extra vigilant near tram tracks or approaching buses.
Autumn is the time when visibility can be limited as the early twilight hours, whether or not combined with rain and sometimes fog, make things extra difficult for STIB drivers when other road users make sudden manoeuvres or cross without looking – especially now that Brussels street lights will be turned off 30 minutes earlier in the morning.
"The period of falling leaves is a difficult time for our drivers as they have to be extra careful while driving," Amal Kammachi, the company's Safety & Risk Manager, said in a press release. "The leaves form a kind of 'mush' in the track. This results in our trams, with their metal wheels, slipping."
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For other road users, it is important to know that the tram always has the right of way, she stressed. "But we also internally communicate good practices to our employees, such as keeping a distance from other road users."
Additionally, falling leaves also make the tram tracks very slippery, especially when it rains, resulting in the tram having much less grip and taking longer to stop, making the already quite long braking distance a lot longer.
Therefore, STIB is not only raising awareness among its drivers but also urging other road users to pay attention: looking carefully when approaching tram tracks and not suddenly crossing in front of an approaching bus. Wearing bright clothing or reflective elements can also improve the visibility of other road users during these dark days.
