6 days ago
School holiday snow tourists urged to drive safely amid surge in vehicles sliding off road
Holiday-makers hitting visiting ski fields in New South Wales are being advised to drive to the conditions amid a surge in vehicles sliding off roads.
More than 6,000 motorists were estimated to have attended ski resorts over the weekend, which forced road closures after car parks at Perisher and Thredbo reached capacity.
It is peak period in the Snowy Mountains due to the rush from the NSW and ACT school holidays.
"So far this snow season, there's been a fourfold increase on last year with people sliding off the side of the road," Transport for NSW operations management executive director Craig Moran said.
Mr Moran said there had been about 100 instances of cars sliding off the road so far this winter, but none were considered to be major crashes.
Roads remain busy today and Kosciuszko Road or Alpine Way may be closed again due to car parks filling up.
Visitors are encouraged to take public transport including the Skitube or the NSW government's Snowy Mountains Bus Service.
Drivers can subscribe to SMS alerts from Transport for NSW for information about car park capacity.
They are also being urged to fit snow chains to their tyres.
"Driver error and inexperience is playing a factor," Mr Moran said.
"Please slow down, be easy on the brake and accelerator and just be patient.
"Driver behaviour generally has been pretty good … it's just some people making poor choices."
Mechanics in Jindabyne have plenty of experience repairing vehicles during winter.
Snow Country Automotive co-owner Megan Shirk said it was "anticipated".
"Winter is our crazy, busy period," she said.
Ms Shirk said vehicles needed work after long trips, wildlife strikes or collisions en route to the ski resorts.
"Just last week we had a two-in-one job — one guy had swerved off the icy road into another girl's car," she said.
Ms Shirk said she could empathise with those travelling long distances to get to the slopes but urged drivers to slow down.
"I used to be a Sydneysider — I know the story," she said.
"You drive six hours or so to get here and all you want to do is get to the snow.
"I can understand people are impatient these days, but people aren't driving to the conditions and slowing down."
