Eastern Bay drivers are reminded of the risks associated with extremely slick roads when it rains after an extended dry period.
The condition is known as ‘summer ice’, and in terms of its potential effect on vehicles it is not unlike the black ice experienced in winter, in that the road is very slippery but the problem is not visible to drivers.
Whakatāne District Council Manager Community Services, Paula Chapman, says during long dry spells, dust, dirt, oil and a multitude of other materials build up on the road surface. “When it rains, this greasy cocktail is released by moisture and can make the road surface extremely slippery, with the greatest risk to drivers being just after the onset of rain,” Ms Chapman says. “It only takes a small amount of rain to make the road surface as slippery as ice and a potential danger for unsuspecting drivers.”
Ms Chapman notes that as this results from a cumulative build-up of material on the road surface, there is no ‘treatment’ to address the problem. “The NZ Transport Agency will issue warnings about these conditions, but we are reliant on drivers being aware that summer ice could be a problem and adjusting their driving speed on corners to keep safe in these conditions.”
Be ‘summer ice’ smart by:
- Keeping your speeds down when travelling on wet roads after a long dry period
- Taking extra care on curves
- Increasing your following distance from vehicles in front of you
- Braking and steering gently
- Allowing extra travel time in case you encounter summer ice conditions