Rotorua motorists are being urged to take care on the roads around the Bay of Plenty and Waikato this weekend with heavy rain expected.
The New Zealand Transport Agency said drivers needed to take extreme care as road surfaces could be very slippery after a long dry spell.
Dust, dirt,oil and other debris built up on the road surface in prolonged dry periods, and when it rained it could make driving conditions slippery and dangerous. Conditions were worst in the first few hours of rain, and light rain was more of a challenge than a heavy downpour, the agency said.
In poor weather drivers needed to change their driving habits and respect the conditions.
That means reducing driving speed below the legal limit and increasing following distances as vehicles need two to three times more stopping distance in wet weather. Drivers were urged to also take it easy on corners.
Before heading out on the road drivers were being encouraged to check the latest highway conditions and the traffic cams online so they had the best information to help them on their journey.
The transport agency's website is regularly updated with information about most delays, closures and detours at www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic.
