Arrive Alive This Holiday Weekend

New Zealand Police Wellington News Release
8:38pm 18 October 2006
http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release.html?id=2718

Police in the Wellington District are urging road users to 'Arrive Alive' this Labour Holiday weekend.

Senior Sergeant Doug Rowan, Wellington District Road Policing Group, says patience is the key during the expected exodus out of the city and up the Kapiti Coast or over to the Wairarapa on Friday afternoon and evening.

"It will be just as congested for the return on Monday," he says. "Roads will be busy, so allow yourself plenty of time and don't get frustrated."

The official Labour Weekend holiday period on the roads runs from 4pm on Friday, 20 October to 6am on Tuesday 24 October. Nationally, last Labour Weekend there were three fatal crashes and 83 reported injury crashes. These resulted in three deaths, 25 serious injuries and 88 minor injuries.

Senior Sergeant Rowan says speed and alcohol were a factor in two of the deaths. Other contributing factors in crashes were inattention, fatigue and loss of control.

"We will be out on the roads maintaining a visible presence," Senior Sergeant Rowan says. "We want people to reach their destinations in one piece and then get home again safely."

Officers want traffic to flow smoothly and that delays - leading to frustration amongst drivers and passengers - are kept to a minimum.

Road users can help by:
• pulling over to let faster moving traffic pass
• wearing their seat belts
• keeping within the speed limits
• putting the brakes on risk taking behaviour
• avoiding alcohol if you're planning on driving
• taking regular breaks to avoid fatigue
• using the Driver Reviver stops where you see them.

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