Winter travel

• De-mist your windows before you start driving
• Use your lights during the day as well as at night so other drivers can see you.
• Drive slower than usual – it only takes a split second to lose control in wet or icy conditions. Also, it takes longer to stop on wet and icy roads. The two-second rule should become at least four seconds.
• Be aware of pedestrians and cyclists who are sharing the road with you.

Wet weather

• After driving through surface water, pump the brakes several times to dry them out.

Snow and ice

• Remove ice/snow and de-mist windows before you start driving.
• Sudden braking and turning can cause you to skid. Brake gently and accelerate smoothly.
• Use your highest gear when going uphill and your lowest gear going downhill.
• If you are driving on a gritted road, drive on the grit, rather than on the tracks made by other vehicles. This will help keep grit spread across the road.
• Frosts can occur any time of the night or morning and in different areas from one day to the next. Be aware of frosts that occur at sunrise, while it may not be frosty at 6am it could be an hour or two later.
• Watch for shaded areas and bridges where ice may remain all day.

Fogged in

• Adjust your speed to the visibility levels.
• Use your headlights on low, as high beams will reflect off fog and produce glare.
• If you have fog lights use these as they have a wide, low beam for better visibility.

Low winter sun

• The sun sits lower in winter and can create glare or sunstrike. Be prepared for this and be ready to slow down, especially when turning into or driving towards the sun.
• Keep your windscreen clean, inside and out. Dust and grime on the windscreen can make the effects of low sun much worse.

• Make sure your lights are working and your bike reflectors are up to standard.
• Wearing bright or light coloured clothing makes you more visible, if possible try to wear something reflective eg clothing or put a reflective strip on backpacks.

For other cycle safety tips please go to cycle safety page.

• Footpaths are not gritted or treated with CMA. If its icy, try putting a pair of old socks over your shoes to increase grip or consider buying some traction grips to pop on your shoes.
• Wearing bright or light coloured clothing makes you more visible, if possible try to wear something reflective eg clothing or reflective strips.
• If you are out walking your dog look at reflective leads or collars for them too.

Gritting and de-icing

Some roads are gritted or treated with a de-icing agent to alleviate winter road hazards such as ice and frost, but we encourage people to drive to the conditions and be aware of the risks on winter roads.

When will the roads be gritted?

The gritting season usually runs from late May until early September.

When there is a chance of frosts, our contractor conducts patrols in the very early hours of the morning and reports on road conditions. Based on the assessment, the grit truck is sent out to apply grit or CMA. The grit map shows which roads are assessed and the priorities for gritting and de-icing.

Arterial roads (major traffic routes) will be gritted before 7.30am. Gritting is not done at a specific time, but usually starts after 5am or 6am as this is when frost often forms.

This map shows roads that get gritting or CMA, click to enlarge.

Which roads will be gritted?

Road gritting is done in the following order of priority:

1. Arterial routes -  These are the main routes or thoroughfares in and out of the city, such as Kaikorai Valley Road, Stuart Street and Pine Hill Road.
2. Collector roads - These are other busy roads, such as Ross Street, that feed traffic to arterial routes. They will be done after arterial roads are completed.
3. Local roads - These are generally not gritted.

If you are not sure whether your street will be gritted, please check the map above.

Why do you grit some roads and not others?

We need to balance costs and benefits. We aim to use our resources effectively by focusing on routes with high volumes of traffic.

Why is my street only gritted in patches?

Grit is laid where it is needed – this may mean a street is only gritted around shady spots, corners and intersections.

Be aware that CMA is clear and looks wet, so it may not always be obvious when it has been applied.

How much grit do you put out?

We follow Waka Kotahi Agency specifications for grit and CMA. Over a season, we use around 1000 tonnes of grit and 50,000 litres of CMA, but the quantities vary depending on how harsh the winter is.

On roads that have a lot of traffic, grit tends to windrow fairly quickly, so care is always needed.

Do you do any pre-gritting?

Some roads are gritted the night before a frost is forecast as they are difficult to grit in the morning – grit also tends to be left on these roads a bit longer. Examples are Coast Road, Buccleugh Street and George King Memorial Drive.

Do you grit private roads and footpaths?

We do not do private gritting. Please make your own arrangements if you want to organise gritting on private car parks, etc. Footpaths are not gritted.

What about gritting on the state highways?

For any enquiries about gritting of state highways, please call the New Zealand Transport Agency on 0800 44 44 49.

When do you remove grit?

Grit is removed by our contractor within 96 hours of it being spread. If you have concerns about grit not being cleared in your area, please contact us.

Where can I find out which roads are closed?

For information on current road conditions and closures, see road conditions webpage or call us on 03 477 4000.

You can also contact AA New Zealand, or check out AA roadwatch or Waka Kotahi traffic and travel information (links are in the related information section).

What should I do if the road I want to use is closed?

Please follow all directions and signs – roads are closed to keep people safe. Note, if you choose to drive on a closed road, you won’t be able to claim insurance.

Who decides whether roads are open or closed?

Roads are closed as a last resort, after all other options have been considered. The Police duty sergeant can request road closures, but only authorised DCC staff and contractors have the authority to close a road.

We will usually only close a road if we can give people a detour into a safer road.

What is calcium magnesium acetate (CMA)?

CMA is a low corrosion, biodegradable alternative to road salt and is used to reduce ice and snow from forming and bonding to the road. CMA helps prevent frosts from forming, is quick and easy to apply, is safer than grit and does not damage the road or road users.

CMA is most effective when used before ice forms and when road surfaces are above -7°C. It can remain effective against ice forming over many nights of dry freezing conditions, but rain or high humidity can reduce its effectiveness.

Our CMA is supplied by Cryotech. For more information, visit their website in the related information section.

What does CMA look like?

CMA is a clear product that comes in both liquid and granular forms. When it is applied, it will often make the road appear wet or damp until it dries.

Where is CMA used?

CMA is applied to selected city routes that have higher traffic volumes, where grit is likely to form windrows and it is difficult to get onto the road to clear it up – see the grit map. As CMA is relatively expensive compared to grit, we can’t use it on all roads.

When is snow cleared?

We don’t grit snow as it does little to improve traction. Once we are certain snow has stopped falling, main roads are cleared. If possible, please avoid driving when it is snowing or when there is snow on the road.

Will the DCC pay for repairs if I crash on icy roads?

No. If you have an crash, please call your insurer. We provide a service to alleviate winter road conditions, but you need to be aware of hazards and drive to the conditions.