As Cyclone Lusi nears New Zealand the AA advises motorists to check road conditions before travelling this weekend and to take extra care if they venture out.

AA Motoring Affairs General Manager Mike Noon is urging people to check their driving route is free of incidents before travelling and suggests the best idea is to stay off the road during any extreme weather.

“It is important to find out if there is any flooding or trees across roads. With heavy rain and high winds predicted it is very likely that this will be the case in many places this weekend which will make travelling more risky.”

AA Roadwatch spokesperson Phil Allen says AA Roadwatch is continually updated with the condition of the roads and traffic congestion.

“Anyone can access AA Roadwatch to find out information about any road closures, flooding, high wind, heavy congestion and slow travel speeds caused by weather or other events.”

“Double your following distance to four seconds to ensure you leave yourself enough stopping distance should the vehicle in front do something unexpected,” says Mr Noon.

“Given most parts of the country have received little rain over the summer months, many roads will be extremely slippery and the chance of flash flooding is high. Drivers must make sure they drive to the conditions and slow down if the roads are wet or visibility is poor.”

“If drivers encounter water flowing across the road they should not attempt to cross it because the depth and flow of the water can be deceptive, especially as the road may have been undermined by flood waters. If flooding is encountered motorists should turn around and retrace their steps,” says Mr Noon.

For more information on road conditions motorists can visit the AA Roadwatch website.

For more information contact:

Phil Allen
CEO
GeoSmart
T. +64 9 966 8630
M. +64 21 415 310
W. www.aa.co.nz

or

Mike Noon
General Manager Motoring Affairs
New Zealand Automobile Association
T. +64 4 931 9984
M. +64 21 659 704
W. www.aa.co.nz