Rt Hon John Key
Prime Minister &
Leader of the National Party

11 November 2011 Media Statement

Safer roads under National

National is determined to keep reducing the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads and will invest around $620 million a year from the National Land Transport Fund on measures to improve road safety, Prime Minister and National Party Leader John Key announced today.

"Over the past three years, National has made tackling our road toll a key priority as we work to build a safer New Zealand. We are on track for a record low road toll this year but there are still far too many preventable deaths on New Zealand roads.

The road toll for 2010 was the second lowest on record. The 2011 toll, to the end of September, stood at 208, compared with 278 at the end of September last year.

"National will continue to make changes that build on the solid progress we have made in the past three years," says Mr Key.

"We will make common-sense law changes that target the groups and behaviours that have the most impact on our road toll, as well as make engineering improvements to make well-travelled routes safer.

"We will introduce legislation to stop drivers staying on their learners and restricted licenses for long periods so they learn to drive properly. We will also introduce a tougher restricted licence test and strengthen motorcycle licence testing.

Mr Key says National's $620 million investment annually on road safety over the next three years includes $295 million a year on safety improvements to our roads and $300 million a year on road policing.

"A big focus in the road safety area is making major improvements to our high-use highways through the Roads of National Significance programme. We will be investing $12.2 billion on improving the highway system across New Zealand over the next 10 years," says Mr Key.

Visit National's road safety policy at:

http://www.national.org.nz/PDF_General/Road_Safety_policy.pdf

© Scoop Media