Seven die on roads as Labour Weekend ends

Speed, alcohol and a failure to buckle up were common factors in a tragic holiday weekend on the nation’s roads.

As the official Labour Weekend holiday period ended at 6am today, the number of those killed on the roads stands at seven from four crashes – one less than for the same period in 2011. An eighth person who died in Queenstown is being excluded from the weekend's statistics because the crash was caused by a medical episode.

Superintendent Carey Griffiths, National Manager of Road Policing, said while many motorists had been well behaved, the needless loss of seven lives was disappointing.

“These were tragedies that could have been avoided, and our thoughts are with the families, whanau and friends of all of those who died.”

Supt. Griffiths said while the various crashes were still under investigation, alcohol and speed were suspected in at least three out of four cases. Also, in at least one of those cases, one of the deceased was not wearing a safety belt.

“When people choose not to wear seat belts, to drink and drive or break the speed limit, they need to realise that those choices have permanent consequences.

“But this is not just a Police issue. We all have a responsibility as friends, family, whänau and communities to challenge these unsafe behaviours – it could save a life.”

The weekend’s fatalities brings the number of road deaths for the year to date to 236 – up 14 on the same time last year.