Winter driving campaign starts

Thursday, 30 April 2009

Winter can be a dangerous time on the roads, so Road Safety Southland, ACC and Police have combined to deliver a Winter Driving campaign starting in May. Road Safety Southland community advisor Jane Ballantyne said ice, snow, rain and poor visibility can push drivers and vehicles to their limit.

"In the past five years three people have been killed and 75 injured in crashes caused by bad weather and Road Safety Southland, ACC and Police want to help Southlanders not become one of those statistics," Ms Ballantyne said.

A few simple precautions can be the difference between a safe trip and a crash. The campaign starts this week with a feature page in The Southland Times. Following on from that Beaurepaires will run vehicle maintenance workshops, targeted at women, which will include how to change a tyre and how to look after the car's tyres, changing oil and jump starting the battery. These courses will be limited to 20 people.

ACC will run safe winter driving seminars with five main employers in the region and ice scrapers will be given out to help drivers clear icy or misty windscreens as well as information on winter driving.

"It's what you don't see that can be the problem - expect the unexpected," ACC injury prevention consultant Nic Miller said.

During the winter months Police will run Operation Frosty, when they will pull over vehicles with misty or frosted windscreens. A brochure containing safe winter driving tips will be available at council offices, some local libraries and garages and will go direct to some employers.

Road Safety, ACC and Police believe a defensive approach to driving is the smart way to stay out of winter driving trouble. This involves being alert to the driving environment around you and constantly watching for potential crash creating situations, like the cyclists who may have inadequate lighting on their bikes, or the pedestrian who may step unexpectedly on to the road.

"A pre-winter fitness test on your car is a good investment if you value safe trouble-free winter driving - many garages in your local area will offer these."

The checks should cover at least the brakes, cooling systems, fan belts, lights, batteries, alternators, tyre pressure and tread checks. It is also a good time to have your vehicle anti-freeze checked.

For further information please contact:

Jane Ballantyne

Road Safety Southland

Ph: 03 2112502 ext 3189

Cellphone: 0274512483

Nic Miller

ACC

Ph: 03 2110210

Cell: 027 281 6698

Kerrin Price

Police

Ph: 03 2110400

Cell: 027222807