NZ TRANSPORT AGENCY
MEDIA RELEASE

20 June 2012

Prepare your teen for their drive to this year’s Mountain Mardi Gras

The cold has arrived, and with snow blanketing many parts of the country it’s a reminder that the winter festival season is just around the corner.

For parents with teenagers heading to one of the many winter festivals scheduled for the next few months, it’s time to start thinking about how you can help your teen drivers prepare for a safe journey to and from their festival destination. Remember, it is not just advice for when they arrive at the event that is useful – but guidance for the drive there and back is vital too.

For some teens, this will be their first experience of driving long distances in potentially wet and icy conditions – a stressful experience for both the driver and the parent waiting at home.

The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has created a dedicated website to help parents with teen drivers – www.safeteendriver.co.nz – which offers a set of practical skills and free tools to encourage parents to work alongside their teens to help identify and manage risk situations, when driving by themselves.

“The Safe Teen Driver website not only provides useful festival hazard advice to discuss with your teen, it also suggests some different ways to talk about the risks so they don’t think you’re over-reacting,” says NZTA Regional Manager Access and Use Kate Styles.

NZTA suggests the following tips for driving to the Mountain Mardi Gras at Ohakune on 23 June:

• When travelling from Auckland or the Waikato to Mt Ruapehu, it is recommended for young drivers to use SH3 and SH4 to National Park. They need to be aware that SH39 through Pirongia is windy and narrow in places and does not have any passing lanes.
•
• The alternative route is SH1, which has reasonable roads, but the roads are busier.
•
• Travelling from the Bay of Plenty down to Mt Ruapehu there are two main routes:
o SH29 over the Kaimais. This is a busy road, and is steep and windy. Extra care needs to be taken in wet and wintry driving conditions. The Summit is prone to heavy fog and your teen will need to turn off on to SH28 to Putaruru, SH1 at Tokoroa, SH32 at Tokanau and SH47 to National Park – the road is fairly good but is windy in places.
o The second route is SH2 to Paengaroa, SH33 to Rotorua, SH5 to Taupo, SH1 to Turangi, SH47 to National park. The roads are good, but they can be busy.
• SH4 between Wanganui and Raetihi (Paraparas) is a long winding section of road between Wanganui and Raetihi, and will be difficult for new drivers. It is likely to be slippery in winter conditions due to rain and freezing conditions. The road may get some snow and/or ice. Caution is advised and we recommend an inexperienced driver is supervised on this road.
• SH1 between Bulls and Waiouru will be busy, but is usually in good condition and is recommended as part of a safe route from Wellington to the winter events on and around Mount Ruapehu. However your teen driver should first gain some supervised experience with open road driving before driving this section of road.
• SH1 the Desert Road is a section of road that is often closed in winter time due to snow. Review weather and road reports if you need to use this section of road and make sure your teen carries warm clothing, food, a charged mobile phone and blankets/sleeping bag in case they get stuck. Snow chains may be needed on this road so make sure your teen knows how and when to fit them.
• There’s often snow and ice on SH49 Ohakune in winter. Make sure your teen driver knows to take great care on this road in winter and checks the road and weather conditions before travelling to the event. Snow chains may be needed on this road so make sure your teen knows how and when to fit them.
• There’s often snow and ice on SH47/48 in winter. Shady spots may be wet and slippery even if the rest of the road is dry. Great care is needed on these roads and snow chains should be carried in winter. Make sure your teen checks the road and weather conditions before travelling to the event.
• SH43 (The Forgotten World Highway) is a long windy section of road between Stratford and Taumarunui, that will be difficult for new drivers. It is likely to be slippery in winter conditions due to rain and may get some snow and/or ice. It is also unsealed in sections. We recommend your teen avoids this road altogether to get to the winter events.
• Whichever route your teenager takes, they’ll need to make sure they plan their route before they leave and allow for rest and refreshment stops on the way, as it’s a long drive. Fatigue can be an issue on the return trip, particularly if they have been skiing all weekend.
• Some sections of the SH1 north of Taihape to south of Waiouru may not see the sun until late in the morning and can be icy even when the road appears to be dry and ice free elsewhere. Talk to your teen about safe driving in icy conditions and use the opportunity to increase their skills in the challenging conditions found on roads at altitude.
• Check opening times and travel directions for the Manawatu gorge. There is no overtaking on this section of highway so your teen will need to be patient. If taking one of the alternative routes, they should take their time and be courteous.

Other key areas the NZTA encourages parents to discuss with their teen drivers includes:
• Highlighting the best route and busy areas
Where possible, parents should thoroughly plan their teen’s route with them, so they can concentrate on driving and not be distracted by navigating
• Planning ahead
The www.highwayinfo.govt.nz site lists current road conditions and any delays, hazards or closures on the state highway network.
• The importance of getting enough sleep
Even moderate sleep deprivation can be dangerous when driving
• Driving at night
40% of crashes involving young drivers happen when it’s dark
• Driving with friends in the car
When a young driver has two or more passengers in the car with them, they’re ten times more likely to have a crash than if they were driving alone. If those passengers are about the same age as the driver, the risk is more than fifteen times higher than if they were driving alone

Please visit www.safeteendriver.co.nz/festivalmap/ for more tips.

ENDS