Care is being urged on state highways in Otago this morning due to the prevailing winter driving conditions, including the risk of black ice.

Area warnings are in place for State Highway 1 Dunedin to Palmerston, State Highway 87 Outram to Kyeburn, and State Highway 85 Kyeburn to Palmerston.

Road users are asked to watch their speeds, to increase their following distances, and to avoid sudden braking or turning movements. Ice is more likely to form in places such as bridges and shaded areas, and black ice (a transparent layer of ice that freezes over the road) can be harder to spot.