Imagine you are driving on one of the many the scenic country roads in the UK, where there are lots of trees, hills and bends.
Suddenly you get to a bit of a hill – you can see that the road continues up ahead, but you cannot see the bottom of the hill right in front of you. The chances are, you are at the start of dead ground.
Dead ground is a hidden dip or hump in the road which prevents you from seeing the road in front completely and fully.
What should you do when you approach dead ground?
Your first reaction – as with most aspects of driving – when you approach any dead ground should be to check your mirrors, come off the accelerator (gas) and think, “What if?”
You should think about the worst realistic possible hazard that could be obscured by the dead ground and act accordingly using the MSPSL routine on the approach.
For example, there could be water built up in the dip, a broken down vehicle or a fallen tree blocking the road – particularly if there has been stormy weather prior to your journey.
Can you overtake on dead ground?
You should never try to overtake when approaching dead ground as it can often give the illusion that there is no traffic there when there actually could be, leading to a potential head on collision. It is best until you have a good, full and clear view of the road before attempting to overtake.
What are the warning signs of dead ground?
You will usually see a standard triangular warning sign with an exclamation mark in the centre, with the words “Hidden dip” in a white box below it as in the picture above.
How big can dead ground be?
Dead ground can range in size. In some cases, hidden dips can be very small but deep enough to cause damage to the suspension or body of the car if crossed too quickly. They can also be, as mentioned earlier, be large enough to completely hide a vehicle from your line of sight.
