Canterbury police will be targeting drink-driving and excessive speed this Easter weekend, in a bid to keep the district fatality-free over the holiday period.
No fatal crashes were recorded in Canterbury during Easter weekend holidays in both 2011 and 2012 - and Police hope to see that record extended for another year.
"Police will be out in force over Easter - targeting drink-drivers and speeding motorists," says Senior Sergeant Phil Newton of the Canterbury Highway Patrol.
"We know that speed and alcohol are the biggest contributors to crashes during the holiday period, so we're urging all motorists to take responsibility for their driving - and for the safety of everyone on the roads this Easter."
The Easter holiday period officially begins at 4.00pm on Thursday (28 March) and ends at 6am on Tuesday April 2.
A speed limit tolerance of 4 km/hr will be strictly enforced for all posted speed limits during the holiday period.
Although there were no fatalities during Easter 2011 and 20132, over the last five Easter weekends, a total of four fatal crashes, 15 serious injury crashes and 65 minor injury crashes have occurred in Canterbury.
Of the four fatal crashes, three involved both alcohol and speed, while the other was fatigue related.
Senior Sergeant Newton says police will be focusing on key risk periods over the course of the long weekend.
A review of crash data has shown that the highest risk periods for speed related crashes over Easter include Thursday afternoon and evening, and Monday afternoon - coinciding with when motorists are travelling to and from their holiday destinations.
"These times are when there are heavy volumes of traffic on the road," Senior Sergeant Newton says. "Drivers can become impatient and take more risks - putting themselves and other road users in danger.
"Add in fatigue and you have a very high-risk scenario. Our message to drivers is slow down, be patient, and allow extra time for your journey. If you're tired, delay your trip or take frequent rest breaks."
The other high risk period is Saturday night and Sunday morning, when alcohol is the major contributor to crashes.
Police will be carrying out high-visibility breath testing and licence checkpoints across the district's highways and in urban areas.
Senior Sergeant Newton says motorists travelling through Mid-Canterbury should also be prepared for increased volumes of motorcycle traffic travelling to and from Methven on State Highways 1, 73 and 77, to attend the Methven Mountain Thunder Motorcycle Street Races on Saturday.
The long weekend also forms part of Operation Crossroads, a joint operation which sees New Zealand Police joining with Australian Police jurisdictions to focus awareness about road safety issues.
ENDS