Police in the Wellington District are urging road users to travel safe and 'Arrive Alive' this Labour Holiday weekend.
Inspector Peter Baird, Road Policing Manager, says officers from throughout the Wellington District (Wellington City, Porirua, the Kapiti Coast, Hutt Valley and the Wairarapa) are concentrating on the State Highways and main arterial routes throughout the holiday weekend.
Speed, alcohol, seat belts, car seat restraints and other high risk offending such as dangerous overtaking, failing to keep left, careless driving and following too closely are the main focus of attention.
The official Labour Weekend holiday period starts at 4pm on Friday, 19 October and ends at 6am on Tuesday, 23 October. Nationally, last Labour Weekend there were three fatal crashes and 127 reported injury crashes resulting in three deaths, 35 serious injuries and 168 minor injuries. One third of the fatal crashes and almost half of the injury crashes reported during the period took place on the open road.
Inspector Baird says that although none of the fatalities happened in the Wellington Police District, road users should not be complacent. There were nine crashes reported in our District last Labour Weekend, injuring 10 people.
"Congestion will be the big problem getting out of Wellington on Friday afternoon and again on Monday when people are returning," Inspector Baird says. "Patience is the key. Avoid the frustration factor by planning your journey, giving yourself some extra time and keeping your focus on the road."
He says the roads north are traditionally busy from 3pm through to about 9pm on Friday with heavy volumes heading home from about 2pm on Monday.
Road policing units, including Highway Patrol, Speed Camera Operators and the Traffic Alcohol Group will be very visible throughout the weekend.
There will be zero tolerance to speed, alcohol and the wearing of seat belts or restraints - drivers, front and rear seat passengers. Drivers stopped can expect to be breath tested.
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"We want traffic to flow as smoothly as possible, that delays are minimised and that people stay alive," Inspector Baird says.
Road users are encouraged to:
• allow extra time for your journey • be patient • avoid drinking and driving • stay within the speed limits • wear seat belts and restraints • watch following distances • pull over to let faster traffic pass • take regular breaks to avoid fatigue • use the Driver Reviver stops - there's one at Waikanae.
Ends
Released by:
Kaye Calder
Wellington Police District communications manager
tel: 04 496 3464 or 0274 373 020