Winter is over but clear skies and cold nights mean spring can hold a hidden risk on our roads in the early mornings.
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The Bureau of Meteorology has posted a frost warning for the central district with temperatures close to zero that can also bring the dangers of black ice on regional roads.
"Please be aware temperatures at ground level can be many degrees lower than those recorded by standard weather stations, especially in calm conditions with very clear skies," the BOM warning states.
On Sunday night clear skies meant the temperature in Ballarat was expected to drop to about zero before 7am but in higher rural areas such as Gordon, Eganstown and Clarke's Hill the temperature could be lower.
The often invisible threat waiting for motorists on a cold morning in the Central Highlands is just one of the things residents need to be guarded against.
Ballarat Highway Patrol's Sergeant Ross Humphrey has often reminded people to ensure their windscreens were clear before heading out to work or school drop off.
He added that roads could also be frosty, so drivers should slow down and be a little more cautious.
In wet weather, it takes a greater distance to brake so it is also important to keep a bit more distance between the car travelling in front to reduce the risk of a collision.
If misty and foggy when travelling, switch headlights on to be clearly visible to other road users and avoid a collision.
Sergeant Humphrey also warned cyclists and pedestrians to be cautious when crossing intersections, as motorists may have a hindrance of vision caused by fog or frost.
He also warned of the risk of black ice.
"Be aware there could be black ice around, so decrease your speed to reduce the risk of incident in the first place," he said.
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