Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Local Govt | National News Video | Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Search

 

Safe Speeds Will Make for Safe Labour Holiday

21 October 2014 | NZ Transport Agency - Auckland

Safe Speeds Will Make for Safe Labour Holiday

Roads in Northland and Auckland will be busy this Labour Day Weekend and the NZ Transport Agency says it will be working with the Police to keep traffic moving and families safe on their travels during the holiday break.

“With more traffic on the road as people celebrate their first long weekend break after winter, driving can be more stressful and more risky,” says the Transport Agency’s Regional Director Ernst Zöllner.

Over the past 5 years, 3 people have died, another 22 were seriously injured and 125 suffered received minor injuries in Labour Weekend crashes on roads in Auckland and Northland.

Excessive speed has been a contributing factor in too many of those crashes, Mr Zöllner says.

“Statistics don’t tell the story of the huge impact on family and friends when loved ones have been killed or seriously injured. We all have a responsibility to look after ourselves and our families, as well as others we share the road with.

“Many of the roads around our favourite holiday spots are narrow or winding. There’s little room to get out of trouble if someone makes a mistake, and they are not designed to be safe at high speeds. The Transport Agency urges people to drive at a speed that’s safe and appropriate for the road rather than trying to target the limit.

“We’re urging everyone to be patient, relax, and enjoy the journey,” says Mr Zöllner.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

Traffic will be heavy on all highways north and south of Auckland. One of the busiest sections will be the Northern Gateway Toll Road, north of Auckland. Last year, the average number of vehicles using the toll road increased by 3,000 a day during the holiday break compared with the weekend before (a Labour Day Weekend daily average of 19,568 vehicles compared with 16,508 the weekend earlier). Traffic is expected to be heaviest this Friday (24 October).

Mr Zöllner says rural SH16 between Auckland and Wellsford is a less congested alternative to the toll road and SH1.

The two lanes on the northbound extension (clip-on) on the Auckland Harbour Bridge will be closed this Sunday (26 October) between6am-10am from the Curran Street on-ramp to the Stafford Road off-ramp. The six remaining lanes on the bridge will remain open.

Congestion may be heavy around the Great North Road interchange on Auckland’s Northwestern Motorway (SH16) on Saturday morning because of a nearby display linked to the tv DIY programme, The Block.

The Transport Agency will stop all maintenance work – including the upgrade of the SH1/Hill Street intersection in Warkworth - for the holiday weekend unless there is an emergency.

“Our weekend shutdown will help keep traffic flowing smoothly, but we do ask people to observe speed limits and watch their following distances through work sites.

“Planning before leaving home together with careful and considerate driving will help people reach their destinations safely, enjoy the spring break, and then have a safe trip home,” says Mr Zöllner.

NZTA’s top tips for a safe Labour Weekend:-

• Before hitting the road, take the time to check your vehicle is safe – check the tyres, brakes, wipers, indicators and lights.

• Allow plenty of time for travel – slow down and make the journey part of the holiday

• Take regular breaks from driving to avoid fatigue

• Avoid the busiest peak periods when highways are congested

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.