Plan your long weekend travel to avoid delays
Plan your long weekend travel to avoid delays
The NZ Transport Agency is encouraging motorists heading
away this Waitangi Weekend to plan their journey and travel
outside peak times to avoid delays.
State highways in the Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Coromandel are expected to be extremely busy from 4pm today, when holiday traffic hits the roads, the Transport Agency’s regional performance manager, Karen Boyt says.
“On some highways, such as SH1 between Auckland to Waikato and SH2 Mangatawhiri vehicle numbers are estimated to more than double as people race to relax on the beach this long weekend,” she says.
“We expect traffic volumes to be heavy in both directions, so it is important that motorists are prepared for delays, are patient, and drive to the conditions.”
State Highway 1 (SH1) between Hamilton and Karapiro is expected to be busy between 10am and 12pm tomorrow and again on Sunday between the hours of 11am and 4pm.
Both SH2 around Waihi and SH25A over the Coromandel Peninsula are expected to be busy, with a peak today between the hours of 6pm and 9pm, tomorrow between 11pm and 3pm, and on Sunday between 9am and 2pm.
People travelling north on the Desert Road (SH1) are
expected to experience delays between 4pm and 6pm today, 10
and 1pm tomorrow and 11am and 3pm on Sunday, due to the
traffic.
Ms Boyt says the combination of more vehicles on
the road, driver fatigue and other stressful things like
heat, traffic delays and noisy children contribute to making
the roads riskier during the holidays.
“Stress-free
journeys are safer journeys so it's important that motorists
are patient and ready for the possibility of hold-ups when
they set out on their holidays,” she says.
“Our
websites help you plan ahead and choose the best times to
travel and routes to avoid delays and reduce stress. Don’t
forget, you can also follow us on twitter and Facebook to
get the latest updates
Ms Boyt says it’s also
important to remember that we all play a part in making our
roads safer for everyone using them.
“We all make
mistakes sometimes, but mistakes on the road can have
serious or even deadly consequences.
“Staying alert,
keeping your speeds down, being courteous and driving to the
conditions are all key elements of a safe journey for you
and your passengers this summer.”
Find out about making
every journey safer by visiting www.saferjourneys.govt.nz
Check the Transport Agency’s website: www.nzta.govt.nz
for the latest highway information or sign up to
www.onthemove.govt.nz for up-to-date information on what is
happening on the route you plan to travel. You can also
freephone 0800 4 HIGHWAYS for national and regional travel
updates.
Getting there in one piece
Here are the
Transport Agency's top tips for driving safely during the
long weekend.
· Plan ahead. Get your vehicle
checked before you head out, plan to avoid peak traffic
where you can and give yourself enough time to take plenty
of rest or sightseeing breaks along the way. It's your
holiday after all, so why not make the journey an enjoyable
part of it?
· Drive to the conditions. This isn't just about weather conditions — it's about the road you're on, the traffic, your vehicle and load, your speed, and even you as a driver (for example being tired or on medication that might affect your driving).
· Watch out for fatigue. Long trips are tiring and fatigue can be deadly behind the wheel. Driver fatigue was a factor in 33 road deaths and 109 serious injuries in 2013. Get a good night's sleep beforehand, and plan in advance where you'll take breaks along the way.
· Keep your cool. Holiday driving can be frustrating with busy roads, stifling heat and restless kids in the car. So please, be courteous and patient while on the roads. Don't get provoked by other drivers’ aggressive behaviour; and wait to overtake until you get to a passing lane or can see enough clear road ahead of you to do it safely. Be sure to take enough games, books and DVDs to keep the kids occupied along the way.
· Buckle up. Don't let your family holiday be marred by tragedy simply because someone didn’t buckle up. If you're the driver you are legally responsible for making sure all passengers under the age of 15 are securely restrained with either a safety belt or child restraint. Children must be properly restrained by an approved child restraint until their 7th birthday.
ENDS