With Road Safety Week starting today, Monday 16 May, Police are asking all motorists and motorcycle riders to view the week as an opportunity to assess their own driving ability and road safety risk level.
“Road Safety Week is a great opportunity for all drivers to reflect on their driving, and assess whether they are taking all the steps humanly possible to stay safe on our roads,” says Inspector Peter McKennie, National Road Policing Operations Manager.
“What is incredibly sad and frustrating for police is attending crashes where simple road safety rules have not been followed.”
Provisional data shows that around 40 percent of car occupants who have died on the roads this year were not wearing seat belts.
“Seat belts save lives, it’s a no-brainer,” says Mr McKennie.
“It’s disappointing and frustrating that in 2016 we still have people not taking the extra few seconds to protect themselves by doing something as simple as buckling up, especially when everyone knows it saves lives.
“Another huge risk drivers are taking is travelling too fast for the conditions. This still remains a contributing factor in around a third of all fatal crashes.”
Last year 319 people were killed on NZ roads, with on average six families every week receiving the devastating news that a loved one had been killed in a crash.
“Drivers need to remember that every patch of road is someone’s community, and all drivers are part of that community even if they’re only passing through. The decision drivers make impact on all the people in that community.
“Police and our road safety partners work hard to reduce death and serious injuries on our roads, but we can’t do it alone.
“So please take a moment to reflect on your own driving and ask yourself, are you doing everything in your power to reduce your road safety risk?”
This is the fifth Road Safety Week in New Zealand.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre