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: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
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84.5% Yes
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14.3% No
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1.3% Other - I'll share below
What would you do if it was your job to fix Hamilton's CBD?
More alcohol restrictions, more lighting, busking rule changes and a whole lot of lobbying - these are some ways Hamilton leaders want to sort out the CBD.
Crime and anti-social behaviour in the area has been in the spotlight after recent news of a man defecating in the street near a city pub and another who flipped tables out the back of a bar after being found scrounging cigarette butts and asked to leave.
What would you do if it was your job to fix Hamilton's CBD? Tell us your reasons in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).
Poll: Do you think this farming-solar combo idea will be popular?
It’s farming, but not as we know it.
Sheep are grazing under solar panels in a Waikato first that could become more common as farmers look to diversify their incomes.
Do you think this farming-solar combo idea will be popular? Tell us your reasons in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).
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0% Yes
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100% Maybe
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0% No
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