Road Safety Programme 2008 to 2009
The Government's Road Safety to 2010 strategy underpins the New Zealand Transport Strategy (NZTS) in the area of road safety, and its goal is to reduce the number of road deaths per year to fewer than 300, hospitalisations for longer than one day to fewer than 2,200 and hospitalisations for longer than three days to fewer than 1,400 by 2010. Expert analysis of benefits, costs and funding shows that a mix of new and enhanced interventions should achieve the overall level of safety set for 2010. The strategy's goals and targets originated from this analysis, and are achievable with the appropriate mix of engineering, enforcement and education initiatives.
You can download the Road Policing Programme 2008 - 2009 [PDF1MB]
There were 443 deaths on our roads during the last 12 months to January 2008.
Our goal is to reduce road deaths to 300 annually by the year 2010. Read our Facing the facts [PDF] brochure for more details.
New Zealand’s road toll has been dropping for more than a decade, despite an increase in the number of licensed drivers, more vehicles on the road, and more powerful vehicles becoming available.
Detailed road statistics and research is available from the Ministry of Transport.
Speed
Excessive speed is the biggest killer on New Zealand roads - particularly rural roads. Police have identified areas called black spots that have a high incidence of car crashes. These areas are the focus of Police enforcement efforts.
Police use the following tactics to reduce speed:
- Radar, laser and speed cameras used to help enforce speed limits
- District crash black spots identified for enforcement
- Speed control focuses on long straights with close attention to areas close to curves
- High visibility highway patrols
- Targetting heavy motor vehicles
Pay an infringement fee
Credit card: Pay an infringement fee online via Westpac's online payment system
Cash or cheque: At any branch of Westpac. You must have the ticket with you for the bank to process your payment.
Cheque or money order: Send (with the notice number included) to; New Zealand Police, PO Box 6641, Wellington
Alcohol
Alcohol is a major contributor to death on our roads. Police enforce this area of traffic law which is designed to keep drinking drivers off our roads.
Compulsory breath testing operations are a very effective tactic in deterring drink drivers.
Tactics to combat drink driving are:
- High visibility compulsory breath testing
- Passive alcohol testing devices
- Vigorous enforcement of alcohol laws
- Visits to hotels/clubs identified in "Last drink survey" as being a problem
Safety belts
Around 50 people are killed in car crashes each year who would probably have survived if they had been wearing a seat belt.
With the exception of those persons exempt from wearing a safety belt, all occupants of vehicles with seat belts fitted, are to wear them whilst the vehicle is in motion.
Children should be seated in an approved child restraint.
Tactics to enforce seat belt usage are:
- Vehicles will be stopped and checked to ensure appropriate restraints are used by adults and children
- If restraints are not used correctly then Police will take appropriate action
- Police will work with the Plunket Association to increase the use of child restraints
Community Roadwatch
The Community Roadwatch Report initiative allows you to submit compliants about bad drivers. Police follow up complaints with the owner of the offending vehicle.
Highway Risk Maps
These risk maps show high-risk crash sectors on New Zealand's roads. They were designed by New Zealand Police and it's road safety partners.
Driving contract
Palmerston North dads Paul O'Brien and Nick Dobson are are putting their money where their mouths are. The Manawatu Chamber of Commerce chairman and the policeman are concerned about their teenage sons, Liam, 15, and James, 16, driving around town on a Friday or Saturday night in breach of licence restrictions and possibly contributing to crash statistics.
The pair are piloting a contract to bind parents with their son or daughter to ensure they don't drink and drive, breach licence restrictions or travel with someone who has been drinking.
The contract [PDF 34Kb] is supported by New Zealand Police.
Mr O'Brien was challenged to "lead by example", and is binding his son Liam to a contract. "He has no excuse - he has a taxi card to get home. In fact, he can get all his mates home too."
Though the contract has no legal status, and is only as sturdy as the magnet that pins it to the fridge, the punishment for any breach - of a ban on the use of Mum's car, or a curfew - should be enough to keep Liam on the straight and narrow, Mr O'Brien said.
Palmerston North Senior Sergeant Nick Dobson sees the results of the combination of young men and fast cars all too often. "Many teenagers drive in breach of their licence to transport their mates," Snr Sgt Dobson said. "Although they seem to have a grip on not drinking and driving, due to advertising and education, they don't realise that driving a carload of their mates around is a huge distraction for such inexperienced drivers."
Useful web sites
The Land Transport Amendment Act 2005 came into effect on 16 January 2006. Information on the changes is available at from the Land Transport Website.
