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Travelling out of Auckland Travelling out of Auckland

Before you begin that epic road trip out of Auckland, make sure you're prepped for the journey and plan ahead to minimise the risk of fatigue.

Drive safely within the speed limits

Remember to drive safely within speed limits and to the conditions. The faster you travel, the less time you have to respond to hazards – and if you crash the impact will be greater, resulting in more severe injuries.

Find out more about road safety

Live congestion updates

The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) provide comprehensive traffic and travel information. You can use their live traffic information map to see real time congestion information.

NZTA traffic and travel information

Beware of driver fatigue when taking a long trip

Fatigue can happen to drivers long before they fall asleep at the wheel. Fatigue is tiredness, weariness or exhaustion and it can affect driver’s reaction time and ability to focus on the road and traffic around them.

Signs of driver fatigue

  • Reduced concentration.
  • Sore eyes.
  • Day dreaming.
  • Slow reactions.
  • Blurry vision.

Common effects of fatigue

  • Drifting off the road.
  • More frequent and unnecessary changes in speed.
  • Not reacting in time to avoid a dangerous situation.

Tips to improve your alertness

  • Get plenty of sleep before a long journey.
  • Plan to drive during times of the day when you’re normally awake.
  • Snack light and stay hydrated.
  • Share the driving.

These are only short-term solutions. The best solution is finding somewhere to stop and sleep. Schedule a break at least once every hour, and whenever you begin to feel sleepy. Try to avoid napping in the driver’s seat, and try not to nap for longer than 40 minutes.

Find out where rest stops and high-risk areas are

Plan ahead to minimise the risk of fatigue. Find rest areas and high-risk areas for common routes out of Auckland below.