Drive to survive is the message Central District Police want to reiterate to motorists as the Easter holiday season approaches.
Following on from the Christmas/New Year festive season, Central District Police will again be using a fixed-wing aircraft over the Easter holidays to monitor traffic flow and identify speeding vehicles.
Central District Road Policing Manager Inspector Dave White says: "The fixed-wing aircraft has proven to be a useful tool to reduce the risks to motorists travelling through the central North Island as it gives us a bird's eye view of what's happening on our highways and roads."
"While our focus is always on the fatal five – speed, seatbelts, alcohol, distraction, and fatigue, other factors such as dangerous and slow driving can also have a huge effect on road safety.
"Anyone we identify doing anything that places other drivers at risk can expect to be caught."
The New Zealand Easter holiday period will officially start at 4pm on Thursday 28 March and end at 6am on Tuesday 2 April 2013.
For the duration of the official holiday period, the speed limit tolerance is 4km for all permanent posted speed limits. This means that Police will take action where vehicle speeds are checked at more than 4km above the posted speed limit.
"The aircraft is another tool alongside speed detection, camera vans, checkpoints, and police vehicles that we are using in the District in an effort to reduce the crash rate."
A State Insurance driver reviver refreshment stand will be set up at Ohakea on Monday 1 April.
"Stop in for a coffee, take a break and revive, and get to your desination safely, "says Inspector White.
Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Sara Stavropoulos on 027 702 0850.