We don’t want to see any more people die on our roads

Joint media release – Police and NZTA
 
“I am as frustrated as everyone else that people continue to be killed on our roads unnecessarily,” says Assistant Commissioner for Road Policing Sandra Venables.

 
“These deaths mean there are now families, friends, and colleagues who will carry a lifetime of grief. They will miss out on the usual life milestones that other families get to enjoy with their loved ones."
 
“Every day we talk about the same circumstances where lives have been lost through a driver taking unnecessary risks and putting themselves, their passengers, and other road users in harm’s way. 
 
“We want everybody to understand the responsibility they have to protect themselves and their passengers, as well as all other road users."
 
“Simple things such as being respectful and courteous on the road, having a focus on getting to the destination safely, having plenty of time so you can take breaks, and not taking unnecessary risks. Being a few minutes late is better than not making it there at all."
 
“Decisions drivers make impact not only them and those in their vehicle, but everybody else on the road. Even good drivers can make a mistake and sometimes those mistakes can cause death. Parents need to have these tough conversations with their teenage drivers as well."
 
“Police focus is on preventing harm; we don’t want to see people driving too fast for the conditions, driving impaired, driving distracted, or not wearing seatbelts."
 
“Please pay attention to your driving, drive to the conditions, put your phone away, and put on your seatbelt. And if you want to have a drink, don’t drive. These are simple things everyone can do to make our roads safer."
 
“Our staff are committed to preventing further loss of life and that is why we will not apologise for policing our roads and taking every opportunity to prevent harm."
 
NZ Transport Agency Director Safety and Environment, Harry Wilson says every death on our roads is a tragedy.
 
“Road deaths are not just numbers, and we never lose sight of the real human loss and grieving behind these figures."
 
“The Transport Agency is supporting the efforts of Police to target enforcement activity on a number of high risk roads to reduce deaths and injuries."
 
“At the same time we are delivering the Government’s Safety Boost programme, a $22.5 million programme of targeted improvements to make 30 regional state highways safer."
 
The roads are in Northland, Taranaki, Manawatu-Wanganui, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland and are being upgraded with rumble strips and better signs. Crash-preventing safety barriers will also be added to some roads.
 
“These are relatively simple, but effective, improvements which can help prevent deaths and serious injuries. For example, rumble strips can reduce all crashes by around 25 percent and fatal run-off-road crashes by up to 42 percent."
 
"As part of the Boost programme we are also investigating the installation of more rural intersection activated warning signs (RIAWS) at a number of high-risk intersections on other state highways around the country.”
 
RIAWS are electronic signs that reduce the speed limit on the state highway (usually from 100 km/h to 60km/hr or 70km/h) if a vehicle is turning into or out of a side road. RIAWS signs are already being successfully used at 13 locations on state highways around the country to improve intersection safety with minimal delays for road users. The Transport Agency is currently holding public consultation on 10 RIAWS sites throughout the country.
 
Assistant Commissioner Venables and Harry Wilson want drivers and riders to remember that road safety is everybody’s responsibility. Nobody wants to share the road with someone who isn’t paying attention or is taking risks.
 
ENDS
 
Issued by Police Media Centre.