With Labour Day and the first long weekend break in months approaching, Southern Police are reminding drivers in Otago and Southland to take extra care with their travel plans to ensure safe journeys on busy roads.
Labour Day Weekend's official road toll period officially starts at 4pm on Friday 21 October and ends at 6am on Tuesday 25 October.
During Labour Day Weekend 2015, five people died and 21 people were seriously injured in crashes on our roads.
Some of the most commonly cited contributing factors for crashes over the weekend included drivers losing control, travelling too fast for the conditions, drink driving, and failing to give way, stop or keep left.
This year, extra police staff have been rostered on to patrol so drivers can expect a high level of visibility of Police staff on the roads.
"Police will be out in force as traffic volumes are expected to be higher than normal," says Otago Coastal Road Policing Manager, Senior Sergeant Steve Larking.
"Police will be focusing on excessive speed and checking that everyone travelling in a vehicle is wearing their seatbelt or restraint correctly.
"If you are involved in a crash, regardless of the cause, speed is the single factor that most affects the outcome. It’s the difference between serious injury and death, being maimed for life or walking away."
As per previous long holiday weekends, speed cameras will be positioned in high risk crash areas and set to enforce a reduced speed threshold of 4km/h over Labour Day weekend.
"In addition, everyone stopped will be breath tested and we'll also be running a number of checkpoints at critical spots around Southland and Otago," Senior Sergeant Larking says.
"Nationally, the crash risk for fatal/serious crashes is 14 per cent higher over Labour Day weekend, so we're asking all drivers to plan ahead to help make their holiday travel safer and to be patient drivers."
There are several ways you can help yourself and others to stay safe on the roads, including:
• Watch your speed
• Allow enough time for your journey and don’t rush
• Reduce your speed in adverse conditions
• Be a legend – stop mates and whänau driving drunk
• Make the journey part of your holiday - plan breaks and take your time
• Make sure you and everyone in your car wears a safety belt or has the appropriate restraint
• Drive considerately – the way we drive affects others
If towing, or driving slowly, regularly pull over to allow other vehicles to pass, as impeding traffic can cause frustration and prompt other drivers to undertake risky overtaking manoeuvres. If you witness any inconsiderate or unsafe driving behaviour, call *555 and report it so it can be dealt with by police.
ENDS
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