Kia mataara, kia āta haere i ngā rori hei ngā rā o Te Aranga – be cautious and courteous on the road this Easter – that is the message from NZ Police, the NZ Transport Agency, and ACC.
“People need to remember road safety is everybody’s responsibility,” says Assistant Commissioner for Road Policing Sandra Venables.
“Last Easter, poor driver behaviour and speed were the main contributing factors of crashes. The most common factors were people not driving to the conditions, driving under the influence of alcohol, or being distracted.
“We want all road users to take care of themselves and their passengers.
“We know the four main behaviours that contribute to road trauma are going too fast for the conditions, impairment (such as fatigue, drugs, or alcohol), distractions (such as using a cell phone), and not wearing seatbelts.
“I would like to see everybody make it through the weekend safely. Our staff will be out on the roads focused on preventing harm and addressing poor driver behaviour.”
NZ Transport Agency Director Safety and Environment Harry Wilson says because there will be more people on the roads over the holiday weekend it’s important to plan ahead and be patient if you are caught up in traffic.
“We don’t want to see people getting impatient and taking unnecessary risks such as dangerous overtaking manoeuvres or following too closely.
“Everyone can get real-time travel information at www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz, so plan your journey and plan to take regular breaks and share the driving where you can. We want everyone to get to their destination safely this weekend.
The safety messages absolutely apply to motorbike riders, who are even more vulnerable, says ACC’s Chief Customer Officer Mike Tully.
“We’ve had lots of riders out enjoying the fantastic weather over summer, but sadly 19 riders and two pillions have lost their lives so far this year. “As we move towards winter, and more challenging conditions on the roads, we want people to ride within their capability; at a pace that feels comfortable, and to wear good quality safety gear.
“Motorcycle riding is acknowledged as high risk, but knowing how to handle the conditions can reduce that risk. “That’s why we think Ride Forever safety training courses are so great; we’d love to see every rider do a course – it could be a lifesaver,” Mike Tully says.
Assistant Commissioner Venables says even with all our agencies working together, we still need all road users to be responsible and look out for each other, so everyone can get where they’re going safely. ENDS
Background note on speed tolerance:
Police focus is on ensuring people are driving safely and to the conditions.
Over the holiday period – from 4pm 29 March to 6am 3 April – if you're detected by a safe speed camera exceeding the area’s posted speed limit by more than 4km, you are highly likely to be ticketed.
Our officers will still have discretion in how they deal with incidents and how they are enforced. Their focus will be on preventing harm on our roads.