‘Black ice’ a deadly factor on Tasmania’s roads in winter

Tasmania’s motorists are urged to be vigilant of black ice and frosty and wet conditions, with RACT
Insurance data revealing 76 per cent of claims involving black ice were made during the months of June
and July over the past five years.

RACT Insurance CEO Trent Sayers said figures also revealed an increase in single vehicle accidents on
Tasmania’s roads during winter from the previous year’s figures.

“According to the most recent RACT Insurance claims data, 687 single vehicle accident claims were
made across Tasmania during the June-August period in 2014, up from 492 for the same period in
2013,” Mr Sayers said.

“It is concerning to see these figures increase in 2014 and RACT Insurance is calling on motorists to turn
this around in 2015 by taking extra care on the roads during the winter months.

“Winter has always been a dangerous period for motorists and I can’t stress enough the need for
Tasmanians to drive to the conditions – a message also communicated regularly by our police and
emergency services.”

Mr Sayers said in the south of the state, roads such as the Huon Highway, Southern Outlet, Channel
Highway and Nichols Rivulet Road were particularly prone to ice during the winter months which could
make driving conditions incredibly dangerous.

“The combination of overnight rain and cold mornings can be a recipe for disaster, not just in the south
but across the entire state,” he said.

“Motorists need to be aware of how much sun exposure a road is likely to get during the day, as it can
mean they don’t dry out at all and cause a very icy start to the morning.”

Mr Sayers said in the interest of safer motoring for all road users, it was the responsibility of all
Tasmanians to ensure their vehicles complied with basic vehicle safety.

“Safety starts at home, which means ensuring the tyres on your vehicle have enough tread, checking
windscreen wipers, as well as making sure your headlights, tail lights and brake lights are all working,”
he said.

“Motorists should also have their brakes checked and ensure indicators are all working, but most of all,
if there is a problem they should get it looked at immediately.

“Winter is also a timely reminder to motorists that under wet or icy conditions, or when travelling
above 80kph, drivers need to leave more than the recommended two-second gap between their
vehicle and the vehicle in front, and instead look to leave a three to four second gap or more.”

Mr Sayers said new winter road safety measures were currently being trailed in Tasmania to help
drivers better negotiate potentially dangerous conditions, with new technology installed along a
stretch of the Huon Highway near Vince’s Saddle in the states south.

“The new solar-powered road markers have built-in temperature and moisture gauges which flash blue
when the air temperature and dew point reach a critical point where ice may form,” he said.

“The technology will be trialed over the winter months and if effective, the Department of State
Growth will look into installing the lights in other ice-prone areas around the state.

“The driving speed and behavior of motorists when the lights are activated will determine the success
of the new initiative.”
RACT Insurance CEO Trent Sayers