31 December 2015 MEDIA STATEMENT
Tragic road toll calls for strategy re-think

The Government's road safety strategies need an urgent re-think following the increase in road deaths over 2015, says Labour’s Transport Spokesperson, Sue Moroney.

“The worst road toll since 2010 comes in the year that National introduced its confusing zero speed tolerance campaign and its shambolic ACC car risk rating scheme.

"Both of these strategies were touted as measures to reduce road deaths and injuries - but this year has seen the reverse occur.

‘With just hours to go, the 2015 road toll sits at 319 [as of this morning] - 25 deaths more than 2014 and 66 more than 2013.

“Behind the statistics lies an intolerable amount of grief and distress.

"The cost of these tragedies to families, our communities and the country is immense. It's time to take stock.

“We are now at the half-way point in the Government’s 10-year Safer Journeys strategy, yet more people are dying on our roads.

“Transport Minister Simon Bridges must heed the many warning signs and consider changing policies that obviously aren’t working,” Sue Moroney says.

ENDS

© Scoop Media