Slow down and stay alert on the roads this weekend

With wet and windy weather hitting parts of the country this weekend, road safety charity Brake is urging drivers to keep road safety front of mind and slow down if travelling.

The charity is reminding drivers to drive to the conditions, slow down and increase the gap to the vehicle in front. Stopping distances are at least double in wet weather and following the dry weather we've experienced even small amounts of water can result in slippery roads.

With a number of festivals, concerts and other events also taking place over the weekend, many people will be travelling to activities, and the charity is reminding drivers to plan their journeys and prioritise the safety of themselves, their passengers and other road users.

Caroline Perry, Brake's NZ Director says: "Road crashes have devastating consequences. Wet and windy weather can create additional hazards on roads so we're reminding drivers to stay alert for changing conditions. We want everyone to get to their destination safely, so it's vital you slow down and increase your following distance to give you chance to react to hazards."

Read Brake's advice for bad weather driving.

Road Safety Week 2019 takes place 6-12 May with the theme Save Lives #SpeakUp. To find out more and sign up to take part in the week, go to www.roadsafetyweek.org.nz.