Although the Christmas-New Year holiday road toll period ended today, police are urging people to keep focused and make the right decisions when they’re on the roads this summer.
The provisional holiday road toll for 2015/2016 is 12 deaths, four fewer than the same period last year. The latest death was in Auckland last night when a man died in hospital from injuries received at a crash in Whangaparaoa on 1 January.
“If we lose one person to road trauma then that’s one too many,” says Superintendent Steve Greally, National Road Policing Manager. “While it’s encouraging that four more people are alive than last holiday period, it’s little comfort to the families and friends of those victims, and to the people who are injured or otherwise traumatised by these crashes.
Police were called to 1617 crashes around the country during the period from 4pm on 24 December 2015 to 6am today, 5 January 2016.
“Drivers making good decisions are crucial to reducing road trauma,” Superintendent Greally says. “We encourage everyone to follow the basic safety rules. These include checking your speed, driving to the road conditions, avoiding alcohol, taking rest breaks and wearing a seat belt. Please make sure your passengers especially children are safely restrained.
“Most drivers do a great job and we congratulate them for making sound decisions when they’re behind the wheel. It’s the mistakes and poor judgement of the risk takers who put the lives of the innocent in danger.
“The holidays aren’t over yet for police or the public. We’ll be maintaining our visibility on the roads, and if people see unsafe driving, then call *555 and let us know. Your call could make a difference to the lives of others.”
Ends
Media contact: Rachel Purdom, Police Public Affairs, Mobile: 021 908 101