Gardai Issue Hailstone Warning After 36 Vehicles Involved In Crashes Yesterday

Driving anywhere this weekend? If so, take note of safety advice issued by gardai as hailstones are predicted across the country.

Yesterday, gardai attended a total of 12 road traffic incidents where a total of 36 vehicles were involved, with one person airlifted to hospital. 

Met Éireann have issued a weather warning for hailstones for this afternoon, saying it is expected to persist in parts of the south later today and possibly over the Easter weekend along with frost. Hail in particular will "lead to treacherous driving conditions."

In a garda statement, a spokesperson says that:

‘Hailshowers pose significant risks to road users particularly on motorways. Drivers on motorways need to be vigilant and ready to stop when and if necessary and they need to be able to stop the vehicle safely in order to avoid collisions. Hailshowers have resulted in multivehicle crashes recently. 

'Please drive to the conditions, reduce your speed and increase your braking distance'.

If you have to drive in hailstones, the Road Safety Authority has the following advice:

- Reduce your speed.
- Use your headlights (remember your day-time running lights only give light to the front of your vehicle.
- Slow down, reduce your speed without braking and increase your braking distance.
- If necessary warn other drivers with your hazard warning lights
- Avoid sudden steering movements or braking suddenly

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