With the prospect of large amounts of rain in many parts of the country, the Road Directorate (Vejdirektoratet) is urging holidaymakers to take necessary precautions before hitting the roads. Kenneth Molberg, on duty at the Road Directorate, emphasizes the importance of leaving in plenty of time to avoid traffic jams and advises drivers to turn on their lights and windshield wipers.
A particular concern in connection with the wet weather is aquaplaning, where vehicles lose grip due to water on the road. “We have cleared the drains to avoid blockages, but heavy rain can still cause leaves and other debris to clog the drains, and then we need to clean them again,” explains Molberg.
Preventing aquaplaning, however, is difficult. “You can’t fully prepare against aquaplaning. We can’t spread salt or similar substances – it’s just water,” says Molberg. Drivers will be informed about the condition of the roads through the Road Directorate’s traffic information, the radio, or built-in GPS systems, to minimize the risk of undetected aquaplaning.
Significant traffic is expected towards the Danish-German border as well as to and from holiday homes around the country, as many people use their holidays to travel south. This could lead to heavy traffic and queues.
The Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) warns of the risk of 100-year events in several parts of the country on Saturday, with expected rainfall amounts over 50 millimeters in many areas. Forecasts show between 40 and 80 millimeters of rain, and temperatures will range between 16 and 20 degrees.