Northland Police Urge Caution On The Roads

With Christmas looming, Northland Police are urging motorists to drive safely to stop more deaths on the region's roads.

Nine people have died on Northland's roads in the last three months and, at 16 deaths, the road toll is more than double last year's figure.

Northland Road Policing Manager Inspector Murray Hodson says although the causes of these latest crashes are yet to be determined by the Coroner, Police have noticed some common factors.

Four of the crashes involved speed, three involved fatigue, three involved inattention, two involved alcohol and one involved failure to use seatbelts.
Eight of the crashes occurred on state highways and one on a rural road with the majority of them occurring during daylight hours. Two of the crashes occurred after midnight.
Five of the crashes occurred during the weekend, a majority of these on a Sunday.

Mr Hodson says driver behaviour needs to change to ensure we don't have a repeat of the last three months.

"This means doing the basics well. Drivers must maintain full attention at all times, drive within the speed limit, not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, not drive when tired, wear seatbelts and stay entirely in your lane."

Mr Hodson says drivers need to be patient and allow plenty of time to reach their destination.
"If you are tired pull over and have a break. A nap of up to 40 minutes will make all the difference or ask someone else to take over the driving. It is better to reach your destination late than never."

Mr Hodson says Police will continue to work with its key strategic partners in the areas of engineering, enforcement and education.

"We work on engineering issues with our partners to improve the condition of our roads. We carry out enforcement activities to ensure drivers follow the road rules and to meet the 'Safer Journeys' aim of a safe road system, increasingly free of death and serious injury.
We educate the public to ensure they are better informed about safe driving behaviour and expectations."

"The public can also expect to see our road policing and frontline staff carrying out alcohol breath testing at all times of the day and night along with setting up random checkpoints.
We want to keep drunk drivers off the road."

Mr Hodson says the public can do their bit by reporting poor driver behaviour through the *555 number or calling 111 for emergencies.
"Make sure you give as much detail as possible including the registration number of the vehicle, the location and time of the offence."

"Police want to see everyone have a safe and happy holiday period and we all need to work together to make sure that happens," says Mr Hodson.

For media inquiries contact Northland Police Communications Manager Sarah Kennett on 09 430 4525 or 027 494 1214.

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