Choose safety on our roads

The message from NZ Police and the NZ Transport Agency to road users is simple – remain focused and drive as if your life and the lives of those around you depend on it. Be courteous, be cautious, and look out for one another.
 
“There have already been too many people die on the roads this year and we want you all to enjoy the New Zealand summer with your loved ones,” says Sandra Venables, Assistant Commissioner for Road Policing. 
 
“Decisions you make as a driver impact not only on you, but all other road users. You have a responsibility to drive safely on behalf of everyone you are sharing the road with. 
 
“Passengers also need to make good decisions about whose hands they are putting their life in. If you have any doubts then speak up, find an alternative driver, or another option to get to where you need to be. 
 
“Designate a sober driver, make sure everyone in the car puts a seatbelt on, and let the driver focus on driving.
 
“Our staff will be targeting the four main behaviours we know contribute to death and serious injury on the road – not wearing your seatbelt, driving impaired (by fatigue, drugs, or alcohol); driving distracted (such as using a cell phone), and speeding.
 
“These behaviours will again be the main focus of our summer road safety campaign. 
 
“Next week we will launch the first of four social media videos to back up Police’s on-road activity, by getting people to think about these behaviours that put lives in danger on the road. 
 
“If officers witness people undertaking any of these risky behaviours on our roads, or we are advised of risky driver behaviour, we will take action either at the time or by follow up enquiries.
 
“We will continue to have a strong operational focus on road safety over the higher risk periods, which will involve all Police staff, not just our road policing teams. 
 
“Our staff will be visible and assisting you to get to your destinations safely by targeting unsafe behaviours.”
 
This evening, Police in Wellington will launch the summer campaign through impairment prevention operations. As well as ensuring nobody is driving impaired, they will also be concentrating on general road safety.
 
NZ Transport Agency Safety and Environment Director Harry Wilson says the high number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads affects families and communities across New Zealand. 
 
“As always, Police will be working incredibly hard to keep New Zealanders safe this summer but all of us need to play our part to ensure we and our loved ones arrive safely.
 
“We know that following four simple rules can be the difference between a safe or tragic outcome on the road: always wear a seatbelt, don’t drive while impaired or distracted and keep to the speed limit.
 
“At the end of the day, agencies can’t do this alone. We need everyone’s help to keep the roads safe, road safety is everybody’s responsibility.”
 
ENDS
 
Background note on speed threshold:
 
Police focus is on ensuring people are driving safely and to the conditions. 
 
Over the holiday period – from 4pm 21 December to 6am 7 January – if you're detected by a safe speed camera exceeding the area’s posted speed limit by more than 4km/h, you will be ticketed. 
 
Our officers will still have discretion in how they deal with incidents and how they are enforced. Their focus will be on preventing harm on our roads.