WINTER is not officially here yet, but there has already been plenty of wet and windy weather.
VicRoads is reminding all road users of the importance of taking extreme care in difficult driving conditions and urges motorists to follow a few simple steps to help improve safety on the roads this winter.
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 the bridge, 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.
Plan your journey and monitor VicTraffic for road condition updates.
And, if you see a road hazard, call 13 11 70 and VicRoads will attend.