Central District Police are encouraging motorists to make safe decisions on the roads as the Easter holiday season begins.
Across the holiday period staff will conduct checkpoints that will focus on high-risk driver behaviour, particularly drink and drug-impaired driving, speeding, and not wearing seatbelts.
Officer in charge of Central District Highway Patrol, Senior Sergeant Kris Burbery says: "We know that seatbelts save lives so before you start your engine ensure that your seatbelt is on and that your passengers have also buckled up."
"There will be a significant volume of traffic traveling through the central North Island and motorists should expect some delays. No one likes waiting in traffic but you can turn a negative into a positive by pulling over and taking a break.
"Anyone we identify doing anything that places other drivers at risk can expect to be stopped."
Police is again enforcing a reduced speed threshold of 4km/h over the official Easter holiday period, from 4pm on Thursday 2 April to 6am on Tuesday 7 April 2015, as it has done for all other holiday weekends since 2010.
Anyone travelling at more than 4km/h over a sign posted speed limit may be ticketed by either a speed camera or a Police officer.
"Sign posted speed limits are simply what they say they are; being aware of the conditions and keeping a constant eye on what speed you are doing are the actions of a responsible driver.
"Officers will be highly visible across the District's roads and motorists should expect that at anywhere and at anytime they could be stopped and be subject to a breath screening test.
"Eleven lives have been tragically lost on Central District roads this year and the trauma to the family and friends of those who have been killed is immeasurable.
"Road safety is everyone's responsibility and when you get behind the wheel the decisions you make will ultimately affect your journey," says Kris.
Planning your journey and traffic updates
If you want to know about potential delays before you hit the state highways visit onthemove.govt.nz or call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS for either the latest highway conditions or to report incidents or hazards on the state highways.
Report a bad driver
You can report dangerous or erratic driving by dialing *555 FREE from your mobile phone.
ENDS
Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Sara Stavropoulos on 027 702 0850.