Every action has a reaction is the message from Waikato Police to motorists intent on speeding on the region's roads this holiday weekend.
Waikato Road Policing Manager, Inspector Leo Tooman, said 12 people died on New Zealand roads over the Easter holiday weekend, two of these in the Waikato and Police want to ensure there's no repeat of this carnage.
"Because speed was identified as a major factor in the majority of these crashes Police are no longer willing to put up with people risking their lives and those of other motorists due to excess speeds"
Mr Tooman said anyone with a heavy foot was likely to find a lighter wallet with Police nationwide taking enforcement action against drivers found driving more than 4km/h over posted permanent speed limits.
"Last year's Queen's Birthday weekend saw four people die in the Waikato, killed in a collision between two cars on SH30 near Benneydale, nationally the holiday road toll was 10 deaths in six crashes and 114 serious injuries.
"Weekends are killing us, currently the Waikato road toll is 24 compared to 22 last year and nine of those deaths occurred over weekends." he said.
Police will have zero tolerance for those not willing to take responsibility when they get behind the wheel.
"What Police have done is reduce the 10km/h tolerance down to 4km/h so at 105km/h our staff will be taking enforcement action. Drivers not prepared to take responsibility on the roads may find they have to take responsibility for their decision making in the courts.
"We're making no apologies for our stance, if you dismiss this initiative as revenue gathering then you're not meeting your responsibility of care and are putting yours and your family's lives at risk on the roads."
Mr Tooman said speed had been identified as a major contributing factor in the analysis of all fatal and serious crashes.
"As such in the Waikato, in the build up to Queen's Birthday weekend our Highway Patrol staff ran operation Fast and the Furious on the Highway network in our region.
"Despite gaining widespread media coverage officers issued 792 infringement notices over the first three weeks of May, disturbingly it wasn't just car drivers exceeding the limit but a lot of heavy motor vehicle drivers as well."
Mr Tooman said the drivers of speeding big rigs were taking a huge gamble not only with their own lives and those of other road users but in terms of the region's roading network as well.
"Once we start defying gravity we're in real trouble, particularly in large vehicles. Our roading network is such that in places it's not very forgiving and if you make an error you can end up paying a heavy price not just in terms of death and injury but commercially as well."
Mr Tooman said the solution was simple; watch your speed, keep to the correct side of the road, don't drive drugged, drunk or tired, avoid using your cell phone and think twice before taking risks.
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