Opinion: Rain signals a spate of crashes

Rain equals crashes. Photo / File

There's an old superstition among journalists that a full moon brings out all the strange news stories.

Those of us rostered on to work a late shift during a full moon go into work expecting all sorts of weird behaviour, and we're often proved right.

You wouldn't believe how often we hear of public nudity at that time of the month - even in the depths of winter. Shudder.

Journalists also know to get ready for a string of stories whenever there's rain after a long dry spell.

Yesterday was a case in point. In the afternoon, we had a sprinkling of rain, some of the first we've had in days, if not weeks.

It didn't take long for the reports of crashes to come in.

First, we heard of a car hitting a house in Te Puke. Then there was a report of a car down a bank near Oropi roundabout. Then a car hit a barrier on Te Matai Rd. And there was a nose-to-tail on Cameron Rd in Gate Pa. All within half an hour.

We don't know as yet whether the light rain contributed to any of these crashes, but there's no denying that during and immediately after rain there are more crashes.

The New Zealand Transport Agency says in a dry spell, dust, dirt, oil and other debris builds up on the surface. When it rains, those ingredients combine and get stirred up to make driving conditions slippery and dangerous.

Conditions are at their worst in the first few hours of rain, and light rain is more of a challenge than a heavy downpour, the agency says.

Drivers are aware rain equals crashes, but there seems to be a bit of a "not me" mentality, it's everyone else that's driving poorly.

But it doesn't matter how good a driver you are if you're hit by someone else.

Drive to the conditions. Your family will thank you for it.