Police patrols will be highly visible across the country this Labour Day Weekend as police focus on two of the greatest road safety risks: speed and alcohol.
For the holiday period, anyone who drives more than 4kph over the permanent posted speed limit is liable to be ticketed, says Superintendent Carey Griffiths, National Manager of Road Policing. Fixed speed cameras will be active throughout the holiday period, and mobile speed cameras will be deployed to their maximum operating hours.
“If you crash – regardless of the cause – your speed is the difference between serious injury and death, or between walking away and being maimed for life,” says Superintendent Griffiths. “One of the most effective things police can do to save lives is to enforce speed limits, because research clearly shows it encourages people to slow down.”
Police will also run highly visible compulsory breath test and licence checkpoints which target the times and places where people are most likely to drink. “We want people to know we’re there before they go drinking, so they don’t take the risk of driving later on,” says Supt Griffiths. Drivers stopped for any reason can also expect to be breath-tested.
Police will also check everyone is travelling with the correct restraints, including rear seat passengers and children. “This will be a good opportunity to remind people with babies and young children that child restraint laws change on 1 November,” says Supt Griffiths.
He urges all drivers to enjoy their journeys and plan breaks to reduce the risk of fatigue. “A high proportion of crashes during Labour Day Weekend are caused by failures in observation or judgement, poor handling and failure to give way or stop. Mistakes like this are more likely if you’re tired.
Police also urge road users to be considerate to others. “Slow drivers impeding traffic in can be a real frustration, and can lead to impatient drivers undertaking risky overtaking manoeuvres. For this reason, Police ask that slower drivers regularly pull over and let traffic pass. We also ask motorists observing inconsiderate driving to pull over and call *555, or get a passenger to make the call and report the matter so it can be dealt with by Police.”
Labour Day Weekend 2013 officially starts at 1600 on Friday 25th October and ends at 0600 on Tuesday 29th October.
ENDS
Contact:
- Up to 5pm Friday 25 October: Ross Henderson, Acting Chief Media Advisor, 027 703 7329.
- 5pm Friday 25 – 8am Tuesday 29 October: After hours pager, 026 101 082.
- Superintendent Griffiths 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.
- Statistics: See www.transport.govt.nz/research/roadtoll/