WITH an arctic blast sweeping across the region, drivers are being urged to exercise caution on the roads.
VicRoads has issued a list of driving tips to keep motorists safe when the roads are like ice rinks and winds are buffeting the car.
* Wet weather should be a prompt to slow down;
* Driving in wet and windy weather can make it harder to drive safely and motorists are urged to match their driving to the weather conditions;
* Leave a greater distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front;
* Be alert for other road users who may be difficult to see, such as motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians;
* Use low beam headlights during the day if poor weather reduces visibility;
* Obey speed limits particularly on bridges, as speed limits may be lowered due to high winds;
* If the rain is too heavy for your wipers to cope, the best course of action is to pull over and wait until visibility improves;
* Traffic slows during wet and windy weather and that’s a good thing – people need to drive to the conditions;
* Secure your load;
* Keep your car roadworthy – in particular, check tyres, windscreen wipers and brake lights on a regular basis;
* Most importantly – be patient; and
* Plan your journey and monitor VicTraffic for road condition updates.
