The Road Safety Authority (RSA), today April 17th 2013 is advising road users to take extra care when travelling on the roads as Met Éireann is warning of damaging gusts from a south to southwest direction of up to 110 km per hour across Leinster and Munster, reaching as high as 130 km per hour in Kerry and along southern coasts.

Met Éireann has forecast very strong southerly winds developing today with severe gusts of  90 to 110 km/h over Munster, Leinster, Galway and Mayo. Strong winds will persist overnight and will be strongest along southern coastal areas.

The RSA is asking road users to take extra care in these strong winds and have issued the following advice:

Beware of objects being blown out onto the road. Expect the unexpected.

Watch out for falling/fallen debris on the road and vehicles veering across the road

Control of a vehicle may be affected by strong cross winds. High sided vehicles and motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to strong winds

Allow extra space between you and vulnerable road users such as cyclists and motorcyclists

Drive with dipped headlights at all times

Monitor radio weather broadcasts while travelling

Advice to Pedestrians & Cyclists;

Be seen. Wear bright clothing with reflective armbands or a reflective belt

Take extra care when near traffic or crossing the road in extremely windy conditions as a sudden gust of wind could blow you into the path of an oncoming vehicle.

Walk on a footpath, not in the street. Walk on the right hand side of the road, facing traffic if there are no footpaths.

For advice on severe weather driving tips please see severe weather advice on the RSA website or check out the RSA Facebook and Twitter pages.

For more weather updates visit Met Eireann’s website www.met.ie