ANOTHER freezing morning on Friday saw a number of car accidents on the Western Freeway caused by black ice.
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Local police have again reiterated their plea for drivers to slow down on cold mornings.
Buninyong Sergeant Peter Anderson said it was frustrating to again see drivers not heeding the messages.
“I want to put out a general warning, people are not heeding the message to slow down in icy conditions, you can not see black ice and by the time you hit it you can be turned around or into trees,” he said.
“It is frustrating, I was travelling at a slow speed just to assess the conditions and there was people coming the other direction who were still driving at the same speed as normal.
“They were not breaking the law but they should have been slowing down.
“People have to be aware that when we have sub-zero temperatures people have to slow down.”
The concerns were echoed by Ballarat Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant Pat Cleary who said he had heard of a number of accidents on Friday morning.
Senior Sergeant Cleary said it was important drivers didn’t make any rapid movements when they hit black ice and drove at a slower than normal pace when the conditions were bad.
He also said drivers should be aware of the areas more prone to black ice, in particular the Western Highway, and drive accordingly.
VicRoads regional director Ewen Nevett said even with black ice warning signs activated it was important drivers also checked weather and delayed their trip if necessary to try and avoid the danger.
“It was unfortunate to hear of the incidents involving black ice on the road network this morning,” he said.
“Drivers need to be responsible when they are behind the wheel and aware of the conditions they are travelling in.
“Sub-zero temperatures combined with overnight rainfall in the region gave a strong indication that black ice would form.
“Drivers can't take the safety features of their cars or any warning systems for granted.
“It is important to be patient, slow down to suit the conditions and remember that it's better to arrive at your destination late than not at all.”
Frost levels will remain high throughout the weekend and early next week, meaning drivers will need to be even more vigilant on the roads.