With Easter and Anzac Day giving us two successive long weekends this year there will be a lot of happy families preparing for trips.
No police officer wants to steal that happiness away by having to deliver news of a road death or serious injury; so Bay of Plenty Police is encouraging everyone to do what they can to make sure everyone reaches their destination safely.
Easter is a particularly high risk time with more people on the roads, less hours of daylight and changeable weather; the current forecast is for heavy rains in many parts of the country. Last year one of the three people killed in New Zealand over the Easter weekend died on Bay of Plenty Roads.
The District also currently has a number of temporary speed limits in place on main highways due to roadworks and long-term construction programmes. Patience is a key ingredient to safety, so anyone travelling is advised to plan routes, prepare for potential delays, allow plenty of time to reach a destination, take regular rest breaks and drive to the conditions.
Acting Road Policing Manager for Bay of Plenty Senior Sergeant Fane Troy said: “We make no apology for sounding like a broken record when we say it’s better to arrive late than not arrive at all. That should be in the minds of everyone. Even safe and careful drivers can make mistakes if they are tired or have a moment of distraction and that’s why every driver on the road needs to take personal responsibility. It’s a simple choice to look after yourself and other roads users; potentially a choice between life and death.”
Speed and alcohol also continue to be factors in a number of fatal and injury crashes.
Following a significant reduction in road deaths over the summer when the speed threshold was reduced to 4km/h for a two month period, the same reduction will be enforced throughout the Easter/Anzac break from 4pm tomorrow (Thursday, 17 April) to 6am on Monday, 28 April.
Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Kim Perks on 027 234 8256.