'Ice Rink' - Most motorists won't know danger of first rain in weeks
Motorists have been advised to take care on corners, bends and braking areas
Vehicles will slip and slide on road surfaces when rain falls after long dry spells, experts have warned.
According to Met Éireann, the last widespread rainfall across much of Kildare before the current prolonged dry spell fell over June 29 and 30.
Substances such as oils, rubber and other contaminates will rise to the surface when the road gets wet - causing greasy or ice rink like conditions.
The number of collisions can increase when the first rain falls after a prolonged dry period.
Very dry roadside verges can initially struggle to absorb rainfall, causing surface water to collect quickly on roads, leading to flash floods.
With regular rain falling on road surfaces, materials such as bitumen, oil and rubber from tyres are continuously washed away.
However during dry weather, these elements remain on the road surface.
As a result, roads provide less friction for vehicle manoeuvres such as braking or tight cornering.
High pressure became established from the beginning of July, bringing extended periods of warm, dry and sunny weather.
Since then, most parts of the county received little or no significant rainfall.
The prolonged dry conditions caused soils to dry out rapidly, grass to brown and reservoir levels to fall.
By July 13, the situation had become severe enough for Uisce Éireann to introduce a Water Conservation Order (hosepipe ban) covering Dublin and parts of Kildare due to increased demand and dwindling water supplies.