Road safety

Julie Neighbourly Lead from Havelock North

I have just driven to Napier and back, in horizontal rain, and almost not seen all the cars with no headlights on, on the roads.

On days like today, where visibility is next to nothing, at times, and the road is a slick as snot (and it is), do not rely on auto headlights. They only come on when it’s dark, and it’s not. Heavy rain and fog do not activate your headlights, and you, and everyone else, need them.
Whether you do or don’t have auto headlights, seriously, if you need wipers you NEED headlights.

You may say “But I can see perfectly!” A: no, you really can’t. And B: no one can see you. Che k your mirrors if you don’t believe me. How well can you see the traffic behind you with no headlights, or coming towards you? Not very, eh?!

Do you want to get where you are going, at all, and ensure everyone else on the road does too, use your noodle and your headlights.

Also, gently pump your brakes before you need to stop. Wet brakes (water and road grime) don’t always function properly. And tyres don’t have the best traction on wet road surfaces.

And, please, please, slow down.