With this Labour weekend coinciding with the Rugby World Cup semi-final round, Police are urging all drivers to ‘keep their head in the game’ and drive safely.
Police will be out in numbers and highly visible this long weekend, as they focus on high risk driving behaviours such as drink driving, speeding, not wearing safety belts and using mobile phones while driving.
"Police's focus this weekend is on making sure everyone gets to and from their destination safely – but we cannot do it alone. Every person on the road needs to make good choices to stay safe and allow for others who do make mistakes," says Superintendent Steve Greally, National Manager Road Policing.
In addition to receiving an infringement, drivers who commit offences that carry demerit points will also get a visual reminder – a yellow card reminding them of the potential future consequences of continued risk-taking. The yellow card reminds people that if they incur 100 demerit points over a two year period, they will have their licence suspended for three months.
“With the Rugby World Cup in full swing, most people understand what a yellow card means," Mr Greally says. "It's a simple reminder that we want everyone to continue to enjoy the rugby and their long weekend without being sidelined – either through high risk driving that costs them their license, or worse, through a permanent injury or tragedy which costs them or others their life.
“These cards give us the opportunity to talk to drivers at the roadside about how they can prevent this from happening.”
As with every other long holiday weekend since 2010, Police will be enforcing a reduced 4km/h speed threshold over the official weekend holiday period, which starts at 4pm Friday (23 October) and runs until 6am Tuesday (27 October).
"This means that anyone caught exceeding speed limits by more than 4km/h should expect to be ticketed," Mr Greally says.
"We'll also be carrying out random alcohol checkpoints over the weekend and will be breath-testing anyone stopped, anywhere, at any time."
Nationally, the crash risk for fatal or serious crashes is 14 percent higher over Labour Weekend. And with the 2015 Rugby World Cup semi-finals being played over this period, Police is also mindful of the potential for alcohol and fatigue to increase that risk.
“With many of the games being played in the early hours of the morning New Zealand time, this could lead to drivers making poor decisions around speed, drink driving and fatigue,” Mr Greally says.
“We want friends and families to enjoy their long weekend without incident.”
There were 78 reported injury crashes during the 2014 Labour Weekend, resulting in three deaths, 21 serious injuries and 81 minor injuries.
“Nobody wants to share the road with someone who is not paying attention, speeding or who has been drinking. So please look after each other and make smart decisions this Labour Weekend.” Mr Greally says.
Ends
Interviews and information:
• Up to 5pm Friday 23 October: Jillian Reid, Senior Media Advisor, 021 947 003.
• 5pm Friday 24 – 8am Tuesday 28 October: After hours pager, 026 101 082.
• Superintendent Greally is available for interview 9-10am and 3-4pm each day during Labour Day Weekend. To request a slot please call the pager, preferably during normal business hours.
District media releases and interviews:
Contact the appropriate District Communications Manager.
Statistics:
See www.transport.govt.nz/research/roadtoll