Check your headlights are working and don’t assume your parking lights will suffice after the sun’s gone down.
That’s the message from police highway patrols, which are calling on drivers to take extra care on the roads and ensure their cars are roadworthy for winter.
Senior Sergeant Ralph Willingham said many drivers failed to adapt their driving to suit the weather and road conditions, with many sticking to the speed limit regardless of fog, wet roads or storms.
“Especially when it’s raining or there’s fog it is imperative that drivers turn on their headlights,” Senior Sergeant Willingham said.
“The key to avoiding collisions in these situations is to improve driver and vehicle visibility. It takes longer to stop a car when the road is wet so slow down and don’t follow the car in front too closely.”
Senior Sergeant Willingham also called on drivers to check their cars’ roadworthiness to ensure the windscreen wipers were functioning properly, that all lights were fully operative and tyres had the appropriate tread.
“Often we see cars driving around with only one headlight or brake light working,” he said. “This not only impacts a person’s depth of vision and ability to see hazards but also creates confusion for other road users.”
The caution comes after a Star Weekly report revealed a spate of near-misses near school zones.
