Bay of Plenty Regional Council are encouraging motorists to take a quick TWIRL before they head out on the road.

Slippery roads, torrential rain and heavy fog are just some of the culprits for winter road crashes, and while motorists can't control the conditions, the Bay of Plenty Regional Council is proving motorists can take control of their own safety.

Motorists are being encouraged to give their vehicles a quick check before they hit the road. File.

The Council has combined with New Zealand Transport Agency, Rotorua Lakes Counci and Waiariki Bay of Plenty Polytech to hold a series of Pit Stops.

Pit Stops are where motorists are shown how to give their vehicle a TWIRL inspection (tyres, windscreen, indicators, rust, lights) to ensure the vehicle is safe before getting on the road.

New Zealand Transport Agency certification officer, Andrew Lister says winter is such a critical time to ensure a vehicle is safe, due to the hazardous weather conditions.

'It's the driver's responsibility to ensure their vehicle is safe. Giving your vehicle a TWIRL is as simple as walking around it to check the tyres, windscreen, indicators, rust and lights – anyone can do it.

'A lot of vehicle issues go unnoticed when driving around town, but can become a major hazard on the open road, putting yourself and others at risk,” Andrew says.

'It's good practice to give your vehicle a TWIRL once every three months, and also before you go on a big trip.”

The recent Pit Stop was the third in Rotorua this winter and was held at the Waiariki Bay of Plenty Polytech Automotive Retail Workshop.

Waiariki Bay of Plenty Polytech automotive engineering lecturer Scott Hearn got on board to give his automotive students real life inspection training, and to expose Waiariki students to the initiative.

'Enthusiasm on the day was high and we had had six students completing the TWIRL inspections. It was a great opportunity for our students to gain experience, and equally for the students and the public to learn about vehicle safety.

'A lot of people, particularly first-time vehicle owners, don't know the ins and outs of their vehicle, so having students involved in the Pit Stop was a great idea. It was also really timely now that warrant of fitness inspection requirements have been extended,” Scott says.

'While a warrant of fitness inspection is a thorough check of a vehicle, it only ensures its safety at the time – there's a long period where things can go unnoticed so it's vital to do a check yourself.

Scott says a TWIRL is a quick and easy precaution to take between inspections.

'It takes two to five minutes and if you do find something you're unsure of, take it to a mechanic to check out – you could be saving a life.”

TWIRL:

• Tyres
• Windscreen, wipers and mirrors,
• Indicators
• Rust
• Lights

To see a video on how to conduct a TWIRL yourself, click here.