Rugby World Cup - share the road
Rugby World Cup - share the road
Five Rugby World Cup games will be played in Central District and throughout this week Police will also be spreading five messages to help make your World Cup experience safe and enjoyable.
"New Zealand is anticipating 75,000 visitors from across the globe who will be travelling on our roads and enjoying the hospitality of our towns," said Operations Manager for Central District, Inspector Dave White. "We want them to arrive home after the tournament safely, and inspired with stories of a great country and great people."
The five
key messages for Police in Central District are around:
• Road travel
• Anti-social and violent
behaviour
• Personal safety
• Party and
alcohol responsibility
• Property safety including
credit card and identity safety
Today's message focuses on travel. Traffic volumes are set to increase significantly and Central District is home to some of the key highways that will transport fans between stadiums.
Many of those fans will be overseas tourists driving on unfamiliar roads in unfamiliar vehicles and in many cases used to driving on the right-hand side. Some will be in slower-moving camper cans and despite the well-signposted New Zealand road network some will inevitably find themselves lost.
"Coupled with the usual messages around speed, alcohol and fatigue, we are urging all motorists to be patient with one another," said Insp White. "We hope all Kiwis, regardless of their interest in rugby, will get into the spirit of the tournament and what it means to New Zealand. We want drivers to share the road and to lend a helping hand if they come across someone who is lost or has broken down. What we don't want is for a tragic death to be the lasting memory of the Rugby World Cup."
Fatigue is likely to be a big issue with motorists travelling some considerable distance in a short space of time. Remember, a fatigued driver is an unsafe driver and regular rest and refreshment breaks should be taken on long trips.
Inattention is also a concern for Police. Drivers excited about the rugby or their holiday or unfamiliar with their surroundings can be easily distracted.
Other road safety advice throughout the tournament is:
• Drive on the left-hand-side of
the road and give way to your right.
• Keep within
the speed limits. Speed limits are rigorously enforced by
Police.
• Drive carefully according to the weather
conditions.
• Fixed and mobile speed cameras
operate throughout New Zealand.
• You are required
by law to carry your driver licence with you at all times.
• All vehicle drivers and passengers must wear a
safety belt or approved child restraint at all times.
• If you are cycling or motorcycling, cycle helmets
and motorcycle helmets are compulsory.
• Driving
under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a crime. Police
actively enforce it day and night with every stopped driver
breath-tested. Penalties are severe and your vehicle could
be impounded in certain circumstances.
• Cell phone
use whilst driving is an offence.
• If you are
driving a campervan, you will generally drive more slowly
than other vehicles. Where it is safe, please pull over to
let other vehicles pass.
• For your own safety,
hitch-hiking is not recommended.
• REMEMBER road
sfaety is everyone's responsibility.
Useful links:
• New Zealand Transport Agency - www.nzta.govt.nz
• Tourism New
Zealand - www.newzealand.com
• Automobile
Association - www.aa.co.nz
Rugby games in Central
District are:
11 September - Ireland v USA - New
Plymouth at 6pm
15 September - Russia v USA - New
Plymouth at 7.30pm
26 September - Wales v Namibia - New
Plymouth at 7.30pm
28 September - Georgia v Romania -
Palmerston North at 7.30pm
2 October - Argentina v
Georgia - Palmerston North at
1pm
ENDS