Canterbury has had a road fatality free January, following on from 2009 as a record year for having the lowest road fatalities in Canterbury since the 1970s.
"This is the result of the continuing local enforcement of the 'fatal five' offences and pro-active work by road safety partner agencies," says Road Policing Manager Inspector Al Stewart.
"That's a great result and represents a significant reduction in emotional harm to families and communities, and social costs to our local service providers. However we can not be complacent", says Inspector Al Stewart, Road Policing Manager, Canterbury. "There are still far too many people breaking the road rules, which will eventually lead to more road deaths, and that is what we are trying to avoid. Last year Canterbury Police issued 44,088 notices for speeding, 7,376 for no seatbelt, caught 3,400 drunk drivers, and charged 15,260 people for careless or dangerous use of a motor vehicle."
"These people are out there on our roads right now. They put themselves and everyone else at danger, and their actions can have serious consequences for you and me and our families. It is up to everyone to intercede when they see a family member or friend driving dangerously or drunk, to stop that offending."
"If you see a family member or friend about to drink and drive, or you are in a vehicle where the driver is speeding or the occupants are not wearing seatbelts - say something. It is too late after the crash to reflect that you may have been able to prevent a fatality by simply voicing your concerns", says Stewart. "The disparity between a dangerous or drunk driver having a near miss or causing a tragedy is slim. I wouldn't want to have to live on the difference."