sand on tarmac roads?
 

are patches of sand brought by wind often on roads?
Wonder how carefully one must ride.

You may get a little in the south but on any fairly busy road it never seems to be a real problem

On my ride down to Dakar end of last year across the Sahara, I only had one day like this. This was in Western Sahara, south of Gulmim, on a very windy day. The interesting bit was when it built up in the corners on my line as in the second picture.


http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/...ps50afea61.jpg


http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/...psccafde89.jpg

Where this happens regularly you will see a sign warning of 'ensablement'.

http://www.morocco-knowledgebase.net/photos/s100306.jpg

In places like the photo above, JCBs are often used to dig out the accumulated sand on the windward side and carry it across the road, rather than let nature drift it across.

The bigger problem is grit and gravel on bends everywhere in Morocco, especially after rainfall has brought it down from higher up.

that's what I was afraid of, bends with surprises :)

thanks guys for tips.

On the road into Erfoud from Erg Chebbi there's a small crest about 5km south of the river bridge. There's always a patch of sand over the crest just like the first picture. I always slow down since I saw a Spanish Pajero hit it about 60 mph and it flipped the car.

Peter

Sand on the road is the last thing you should be worrying about; there's more dangerous hazards such as large potholes appearing or whole sections or road sinking, animals in the road or a bus overtaking a truck coming towards you.

The golden rule is you should be able to stop safely on your own side of the road in a distance you can see to be clear. If you can't then back off and slow down and try to avoid travelling in the dark.

I wouldn't worry to much as it's probably no worse than any other country but you do need to be aware of other vehicles' dangerous overtakes.

When you see a sign reading 'ensablement'...

Sand
 

Wow Jim, that's a bit more sand than I came across. Where was this, near Laayoune?

I saw the bulldozers on the side of the road as I passed and I suspect they had just been used as the sand was neatly piled up at the side of the road.

It was about 60 km inland of Laayoune coming in from Al Haggouinia after a cross-country stint.