Take care on roads in winter

WINTER has taken hold across Victoria with the recent snap of cold weather, and VicRoads has reminded drivers that extreme weather and poor light can make driving dangerous.

If you’re headed to Victoria’s ski fields, you are required to carry chains, and fit them when directed. During the snow season, alpine areas are deemed hazardous for commercial vehicles and certain private vehicles carrying more than 30 passengers.

Practice fitting chains before a trip, only fit chains to driving wheels and carry a torch, plastic garbage bag and gloves to make fitting easier.

For better control of your vehicle and to prevent damaging the chains, drive at a lower speed and avoid sudden acceleration or braking.

Substantial fines apply for not complying with the rules regarding snow chains.

Driving in snowy conditions requires a lot of concentration and patience. Drive cautiously with two hands on the wheel and steady pressure on the accelerator. Brake with steady pressure and avoid braking when cornering. Engage low gear when you drive down a mountain, and if you hit ice, remain calm and apply the brakes gently to slowly regain traction.

In fog or snowy conditions, use fog lights instead of setting your headlights on high beam, if you don’t have fog lights you can use your hazard lights with your headlights on low beam.

Black ice is common across Victoria during winter. You cannot see black ice. Black ice generally forms at night time, in the early mornings or on sections of the roads that haven’t been exposed to sunlight, like under tree cover.

If you hit black ice, you will have little or no control over your vehicle. Until you clear the patch of ice, use the accelerator, brakes and steering as little as possible. Avoid accelerating, braking hard or turning the steering wheel quickly. If you try to struggle against the ice by braking hard or steering in the opposite direction, you increase the risk of spinning out.

Check for black ice warnings by heading to traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au, download the VicTraffic app, follow @VicTraffic on Twitter or check the VicTraffic Facebook page.

If you see any hazards on our roads, report them to the VicRoads Traffic Management Centre on 13 11 70 (open 24/7). In an emergency, phone Triple Zero (000).