New Zealand Police tells people to keep their eyes on the road and to pay attention to what’s going on around them.
“Things can change around you in a split second, and if you’re not paying attention you may not have time to react and avoid a crash,” says Superintendent Steve Greally, National Manager: Road Policing.
“It’s natural as people we often think we’re invincible, you think it’ll never happen to you, crashes happen to other people. But that’s what those other people thought too.
“Unfortunately, people think they are the exception. But nobody is the exception.
“When you’re driving, your undivided attention should be on that task. You can’t have undivided attention in two places at once; undivided is undivided.
“Our Police staff will still be out there every day trying to prevent risky driver behaviour. But drivers and riders also need to take responsibility for themselves and other road users. It just takes one person, being distracted for one second, to potentially cause a life changing crash.
“Nobody wants to be responsible for that.
“So every time you get in your car or on your bike please pay attention. It’s simple really; just concentrate on what you’re doing and get there safely.
“I also want to urge pedestrians to pay attention too. Don’t look at your phone when you’re crossing the road. Look both ways and keep looking.
“Pedestrians are just as vulnerable to the danger of distractions and have just as much responsibility to watch where they’re going.
“Let’s all work together and get everybody where they’re going safely on our roads.”
ENDS
Police Media Centre