The sun starts rising a little earlier, the birds are reappearing, and suddenly you don’t need the heater blazing throughout the day anymore. Congratulations: winter is ending!
After a bitter three months (or more) of cold mornings and even colder nights, winter is finally on the way out.
As things start to warm up, it’s time to shed your winter wardrobe and prepare for warm weather adventures.
But sadly, spring in Victoria is not all sunshine and rainbows—well, there’s more to it than that.
Yes, the spring shift brings warmer weather, but a Victorian spring also brings more wind and more rain.
So when hitting country highways this spring for a well-deserved road trip, keep some of these safety tips in mind.
Start your spring off right with a vehicle safety check
First things first, you should get your vehicle inspected before going on any long-haul trips this spring.
If you haven’t had your car serviced in over a year, do yourself a favor and book in with a mechanic as soon as possible.
With parts availability still being limited due to ongoing import delays, you’ll want to book in early just in case you’re waiting longer than expected.
For Seymour locals, you may find that vehicle parts will need to be ordered either from interstate or from metro Melbourne, and transportation costs for parts could be factored into your mechanic servicing fees.
You could save a little extra by just travelling straight to the source. For instance, a mechanic in Tullamarine would be well-positioned to receive parts from interstate (via air freight), or even just from metro mechanics across Melbourne’s northern and western networks.
Whether you’re dusting off the 4WD for some gallivanting in the Grampians or cooling off at St Kilda Beach, have a specialist mechanic check your car over for any burgeoning issues before you hit the road.
Not only will you be putting safety first, but maintaining a proactive approach to your vehicle servicing will help you save money in the long run.
Spring showers bring slippery roads, so SLOW DOWN
Considering the fact that spring in Victoria means more rain and fog, you can expect visibility to still be quite low out on rural roadways.
In fact, in 2024 alone, mortalities in regional road accidents dramatically surpassed recorded statistics across metro roadways in Victoria.
Whilst figures for this year are yet to be released, highway patrol authorities are estimating more of the same numbers.
Authorities recommend navigating roadways with caution during spring weather conditions where visibility is reduced.
Methods for maintaining visibility can include keeping your wipers running and using defog systems to clear your windscreen and rear windows.
When there is fog on the road, use your high beams in consideration of other drivers, but be courteous and flick them off in the presence of oncoming traffic.
In heavy rainfall or when water on the road is looking high, increase your distance from other cars and decrease your speed to account for any sudden stops or turn offs.
Finally, drivers should also know when to pull over in extreme low visibility conditions (i.e. the fog is so heavy that you can’t see past your bonnet).
In these situations, it can be safer to just wait out the storm rather than risk making the journey.
The best way to stay safe while navigating a hazy spring road is to be vigilant and SLOW DOWN, as per our bright yellow road signs here in Victoria.
A rainy day doesn’t need to soil your weekend plans or spell disaster if you commit to driving safely and slowly.
It’s deeper than you think—avoid driving through large puddles
You’re bound to encounter a puddle or two on account of all the lovely springtime rain.
Driving through a puddle can be harmless and even lots of fun.
But looks can be deceiving at times and on a regional road that innocent-looking puddle may be way deeper than you think.
Puddles can hide deep road faults or potholes, which is another reason to drive slowly and with caution in spring storms.
Potholes are also worse on regional roads where they are primed to damage your car’s tyres and axles and ruin your road trip in the short term, and your vehicle in the long.
As you explore the regional roads of Victoria, be cautious of puddles and other hidden dangers in wet weather conditions – think plant debris, fallen power lines, and other hazards that may be out of your line of sight.
Maintaining vigilance and reacting accordingly can help you not only stay safe on roadways, but also keep your car in good health all throughout spring.
Keep an eye out for wildlife on the road
Exploring the bush in spring naturally means more wildlife sightings.
But there’s a big difference between spotting a wallaby through the trees and seeing one in your headlights.
Alongside being heartbreaking, hitting wildlife can also cause great damage to your vehicle and may even result in injury to you and your passengers.
Alongside native wildlife like wallabies and kangaroos, roaming livestock are also a hazard on regional roads, so be sure to keep an eye out for both ‘Wildlife Crossing’ and farm animal and livestock signs.
It’s not unusual to find these signs along regional roadways with 80-100km/h speed limits, so make a habit of slowing down upon spotting any of these signs.
If you do happen to see an animal on or near the road, slow down as well.
This can help reduce risks of the animal becoming startled and running into other lanes.
Reducing your speed will also give you more time to react and safely move out of the way.
Sometimes, however, collisions with wildlife are sadly unavoidable.
If you do have an accident on a regional roadway that has resulted in the injury or death of an animal, then be sure to contact Wildlife Australia and notify them of the incident so they can offer assistance or at a minimum, remove the carcass as a road hazard.
Drive Safely This Spring in Regional Victoria
Spring in Victoria is a beautiful time of year.
In the warmer months, the state really comes into its own and there is no shortage of things to see and do.
By following some of these safety tips, you can ensure a safe and smile-filled spring, while exploring the small towns and regional vistas of the Garden State. So hit the road!
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