We Say/You Say: Winter Driving
Hi Hamilton,
Have you had any close shaves because of hazardous winter road conditions?
There were several crashes on Monday morning in the Waikato region as a result of icy conditions.
Black ice is incredibly difficult to spot for the average motorist and the AA recommends drivers pay attention to the weather conditions the night before setting out.
Temperatures below zero, valleys and dips in the road and shaded areas where the road won't warm up as quickly are all factors in black ice formation.
"You don't want to slam on your brakes if you do get onto ice and feel the vehicle starting to slide. That's actually likely to make the vehicle go more out of control," AA spokesman Dylan Thomsen said.
Multiple precautions are taken by Waka Kotahi (NZTA) to improve the safety during the winter.
The agency contracts Downer workers to drive hundreds of kilometres along stretches to detect wet patches of road as they are freezing.
Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA) is sprayed on roads and bridges in very cold areas to stop ice from forming. The chemical acts by lowering the freezing temperature of the water.
Accidents are also mitigated when asphalt is sprinkled on at-risk stretches of road.
Share your thoughts below and don't forget to type NFP if you don't want your comment featured in the Hamilton Press.
Poll: If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? 🛻🚨🚓
In the Post's article on speeding penalties, the question is asked whether speeding fines are truly about road safety, or are they just a way to boost revenue for the Crown?
What do you think? Should speeding motorists receive speeding fines or demerit points?
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32.1% The sting of a fine (Money talks!)
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67.9% The threat of demerit points (Nobody wants to lose their license!)
Poll: How are your manu skills?
Waikato MP Tim van de Molen could have inadvertently been gifted his new election campaign slogan after taking out the Waikato Times political manu challenge.
Guest judge Alia McQueen said the National Party MP showed loads of “style and energy” as he out-bombed his parliamentary colleagues at Saturday’s impromptu manu challenge at Wellington Street Beach in Hamilton.
How are your manu skills? Tell us more in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).
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0% I'm pretty good
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0% Need work
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0% I've never tried
Do you recognise these people?
Police investigating a serious assault in Matangi are asking the public for help in identifying the offenders.
Two people were trying to speak to the occupants of a dark-coloured Ford Falcon on Saturday night that was doing noisy burnouts in the semi-rural area.
Anyone with information should contact 105 either over phone or online by clicking “Update Report”. Please use file number 260301/0526.
Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
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