With the State’s roads experiencing increasingly frosty and icy conditions, motorists
are being urged to remain vigilant of ‘black ice’ and other difficult road conditions this
winter, with RACT Insurance claims data from 2012 showing 77 per cent of incidents
involving ‘black ice’ occurred during the months of June and July.
RACT Insurance CEO Trent Sayers said the winter months traditionally saw a
significant increase in claims due to motorists hitting patches of ‘black ice’ or frostcovered
sections of road or highway.
“In cold and slippery conditions it is easy to lose control of a vehicle, and motorists
should be wary of the surface they’re driving on, particularly on long stretches of
highway or country roads,” Mr Sayers said.
“Black ice is a very thin layer of ice that settles on flat surfaces and is almost invisible
to the naked eye, but when cars come into contact with it they can easily lose control.”
Mr Sayers added that to reduce their risk motorists should check their tyres and
vehicles regularly to ensure they’re equipped for the changing road conditions.
“I really can’t stress enough the need for motorists to drive to the conditions,” he said
“It’s a message communicated regularly by our police force and emergency services,
and it’s never been more important than during the Tasmanian winter months.”
“We see a lot of incidents occurring each year due to people not ensuring their tyres
are safe and have plenty of tread.
“In difficult economic times, people look for ways to save money, and putting off
replacing tyres is one way people may try to cut their expenses.
“And RACT is continuing its program of free vehicle safety checks this winter – an ideal
opportunity for a quick ‘once-over’ to provide some peace of mind.”
RACT winter safety checks will be conducted on 18 June (Hobart) and 28 June
(Launceston). For more information, call 13 27 22.
RACT Insurance CEO Trent Sayers
