Winter Warning – Be Careful Out There

Dunedin (Monday, 27 May 2013) – Winter’s only around the corner so remember to drive to the conditions.

With snow expected in some areas today, and ice and heavy rain likely at times during winter, the Dunedin City Council is reminding people to be particularly careful when driving, cycling or walking to work or school.

DCC Roading Maintenance Engineer Peter Standring says the DCC and its contractors do their best to keep local roads clear and to keep people informed about road conditions.

“We are here to aid and assist the public to make travel decisions, but we can’t make those decisions for them.”

Road conditions are updated regularly and people are encouraged to visit – www.dunedin.govt.nz/road-conditions - for the most up-to-date information. You can also look at the Highgate web cam and others around the city.

If Dunedin gets a heavy snowfall, visit the DCC’s home page - www.dunedin.govt.nz - to access useful details such as whether buses are running, if libraries and other facilities are open, and whether your rubbish will be collected.

In icy or snow conditions, ask yourself if your trip is really necessary, or can you delay it?

When driving on a frosty morning, remember the hardest frosts tend to arrive at daybreak, which is later in winter. Make sure you de-ice and de-mist the windscreen and other windows before you start your journey and allow more time to get to your destination.

Drive slowly and use your headlights. In wet, icy or snowy weather, leave a greater distance between your vehicle and the one in front. Try to use main roads, which are more likely to be gritted or treated with calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) and be particularly cautious on suburban roads.

If you are cycling, ensure your lights are working and that you are wearing high-visibility clothing. If you are walking, high-visibility clothing is also a good idea to ensure you are seen when crossing roads. Footpaths are not gritted or treated with CMA so be particularly careful.

For winter driving tips - www.dunedin.govt.nz/winter-driving.

A link to South Island state highway conditions - http://www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/current-conditions/highway-info/road/8373/south-island.html

ENDS

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