SO BRIGHT: Police want drivers to take extra care when experiencing sunstrike. Pictured is Rotorua police Sergeant Dave Hamilton. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER
SO BRIGHT: Police want drivers to take extra care when experiencing sunstrike. Pictured is Rotorua police Sergeant Dave Hamilton. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER
If you can't see the road for the sun then don't drive.
That's the message Rotorua police want to share while the sun is at its lowest in the sky.
Rotorua police road policing manager Senior Sergeant Nicky Riordan said people driving into the sun, particularly from Malfroy, Sunset andClayton roads in the morning, should make sure they had full visibility.
"If the driver can't see in front of them then they need to pull over until they can," Mrs Riordan said.
"It's for such a short period of time but it's a significant hazard. You can't underestimate it."
She said it was important drivers made sure they had full visibility through their windscreen and windows before setting off in the morning and to double check it was safe to pull out at intersections.
"Anyone heading east from about 7.50am to 8.30am, when the sun is at a low level, needs to be aware of sunstrike. One thing you can do is to make sure your car windows are demisted. Be aware that the sun can cause issues and pull over to the side if you cannot see."
Sergeant Dave Hamilton said he had stopped one driver after being clocked at 120km/h because "they couldn't see the speedo because of the sun".
