Canterbury Police are hoping the district's drivers will again be among the safest in the country these holidays - and repeat last summer's zero road toll.
During the 2009-10 official holiday period Canterbury was one of six regions to record zero fatalities.
"That was an encouraging result, and a big improvement on the previous year's five holiday fatalities," said acting road policing manager Senior Sergeant Glenn Nalder.
"But the last thing we want is for drivers in the region to become complacent - so we are urging drivers to focus on safe driving, especially in relation to speed and drink driving.
"Alcohol and speed continue to be the biggest curses on our nation's roads, and Canterbury is no exception - they have been a major contributor to fatalities and crashes this year."
The current 2010 road toll for Canterbury stood at 47 as at 20 December, compared to 31 at the same time last year, and the highest total since 2007.
The total annual road toll in Canterbury in 2009 was 32, the lowest since regional records were commenced in 1980. The annual total compares to 48 in 2008, and 56 in 2007.
Senior Sergeant Nalder said Canterbury road police would be maintaining a high level of enforcement throughout the holiday period, which begins at 16:00 (4pm) on Friday 24 December and ends at 06:00 (6am) on Wednesday 5 January 2011.
"We will particularly be targeting highway patrols during the holidays, and we remind drivers that police are enforcing a speed tolerance of just 5 kilometres an hour.
"We are also focusing on drink driving with regular check points and booze bus operations around the district.
"We want everyone to enjoy safe travel this summer - so our message to drivers is to plan ahead, check your vehicle for safety, drive to the conditions and don't drink and drive."
ENDS
For more information: Acting road policing manager Senior Sergeant Glenn Nalder, mob. 0274529251