Motorists are being urged to be wary of sunstrike when driving on Rotorua roads this winter.
May is the worst month of the year for road crashes caused by drivers being blinded by sunstrike, which is when the angle of sunlight hitting a windscreen creates glare that is hard for drivers to see through.
The problem is worse on winter mornings and afternoons, when the sun is low in the sky.
AA Motoring Affairs general manager Mike Noon said every year about two people were killed and 200 injured in crashes where the driver was blinded by sunlight.
"May is the highest risk month and from now through to August is when drivers need to be extra careful," he said.
Mr Noon said the most common types of crashes caused by sunstrike involved people pulling out from a side street or driveway into the path of another vehicle they did not see, or rear-ending a vehicle that had stopped.
Sunstrike also added risks for cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists, as they could be easily hidden in the glare, he said.
Rotorua driving instructor Allan Kollersaid there were several spots in the city that were particularly bad for sunstrike, including on Malfroy Rd, Sunset Rd, Pukehangi Rd and Devon St near the Rotorua International Stadium.
"There are a couple of really bad spots in Rotorua for sunstrike. It's important drivers know how to deal with it, so they can keep themselves and others safe," he said.
Mr Coller advised drivers to wear sunglasses and put their visors down to minimise sunstrike risk.
If motorists were approaching an area where they'd experienced sunstrike before, they should consider taking an alternative route, he said.
"In the worst-case scenario, pull over safely and stop, then turn around and drive another way. It's crucial you don't continue to drive if you're being blinded by the sun and can't see anything. That's when somebody is going to get hurt."
Driving with your headlights on so your vehicle was easier to see was also advisable, he said.