Just scraping the surface

In an effort to get the word out about road safety this autumn, Council’s Road Safety Team are offering free windscreen ice scrapers to the community.

Council’s road safety campaign is well underway and urges drivers to take extreme care over the coming months. Taupō District Council Road Safety Coordinator, Christine Hutchison, says the key message for motorists is to drive to the conditions. “At this time of year, we can have brilliant weather one day, a severe frost the next and torrential rain the next.”

The windscreen ice scrapers are a way to get the word out but also give drivers a practical tool. Taupō Senior Sergeant, Fane Troy, says drivers must make sure they clear all their vehicle windows of ice and condensation. “It is an offence to drive with an obscured windscreen, so take the time to clear them and minimise the possibility of a crash.”

The autumn weather makes driving conditions difficult and the weather conditions can change quickly and without warning so drivers should be prepared for the unexpected when driving. Motorists are advised to reduce their speed, increase following distances, drive with headlights on and be aware of their environment.

These messages are being advocated throughout the Waikato as the region has some of New Zealand’s busiest state highways and the highest fatal crash rate per kilometre of road.

“It takes around two seconds to complete an emergency stop in good weather, but it can take at least four seconds, and twice the distance, in poor conditions,” says Christine.

“Early commuters should be particularly wary of icy roads as frost becomes more severe at daybreak. Shaded areas can also prevent patches of ice from thawing until later in the day.” Although Council contractors apply grit to the District’s most notorious frost spots, Christine says drivers still need to exercise extreme caution.

Many of the District’s roads are quickly affected by low cloud and rain, reducing driver visibility considerably and increasing the risk of losing control. According to Christine, statistics show that driving with headlights on significantly increases a vehicle’s visibility to other road users and results in a marked reduction in road crashes.

The windscreen ice scrapers are available free from the Council offices in Taupō, Turangi and Mangakino while stocks last. For more information on road safety, visit www.taupo.govt.nz to download a copy of our winter driving brochure.

Road Safety Tips:

• Check the latest road conditions information on www.highwayinfo.govt.nz or by calling 0800 4 HIGHWAYS

• If possible, avoid travelling during night time, early morning and when severe weather is forecast

• Dress for the conditions, carry warm clothes, ensure your cellphone is charged and keep a survival kit in your vehicle including warm blankets and food

• Ensure your car is road worthy: check your tyres have adequate tread depth.

• Avoid sudden braking or turning movements and accelerate smoothly

• Ice on the roads is not always easy to see, so be prepared at all times for black ice.