Everyone Can Help Make Our Roads Safer

The theme of this week’s Road Safety Week is Be a Road Safety Hero and Transporting New Zealand has some tips for getting your superhero cape on.

CEO Dom Kalasih says everybody can help make the roads safer, from truckies in the big rigs, to motorists and cyclists.

In particular, he says some key things make the roads much safer for everyone.

"The roads are truckie’s workplaces, and they want them to be as safe as they can be for everyone," he says.

"A bit of patience and courtesy go a huge way to making sure everyone has a good trip."

Four top safety tips around trucks are;

Leave the gap.

Don’t pull in front of a truck just because there’s a space. Truck drivers like a decent space in front because they take about twice the distance to stop than a car does.

Make yourself seen.

Trucks have blindspots. If you can’t see their wing mirrors, they can’t see you. And if it’s wet, put on your car lights so you stand out behind the spray that gets kicked up.. Cyclists can help by wearing some fluro. There are a few riders who think dressing in black like a ninja at night is a good idea. It’s really not.

It’s SH1, not F1

Trucks legally can only do 90 km/h. If you want to pass, give yourself plenty of space if you’re using a passing lane. You might have 40 metres to pass so make sure there is plenty of space for you and anybody else who plans on getting through by the time the passing lane ends.

Here’s an example of what not to do, taken on a road outside Rotorua. https://bit.ly/Far_too_tight

Tired? Pull over

Feeling sleepy? Find a safe place to pull over and have a micro-rest. The AA says a 15-20 minute power nap provides the brain with the best pick-me-up. Some water and a banana are always handy for keeping energised.

More information on Road Safety Week is here: www.roadsafetyweek.org.nz/

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