Choose safety on our roads
"Choose safety on our roads "
The message from NZ Police
and the NZ Transport Agency to road users is simple –
remain focused and drive as if your life and the lives of
those around you depend on it.
Be courteous, be cautious,
and look out for one another.
“There have already
been too many people die on the roads this year and we want
you all to enjoy the New Zealand summer with your loved
ones,” says Sandra Venables, Assistant Commissioner for
Road Policing.
“Decisions you make as a driver
impact not only on you, but all other road users.
You
have a responsibility to drive safely on behalf of everyone
you are sharing the road with.
“Passengers also
need to make good decisions about whose hands they are
putting their life in.
If you have any doubts then speak
up, find an alternative driver, or another option to get to
where you need to be.
“Designate a sober driver,
make sure everyone in the car puts a seatbelt on, and let
the driver focus on driving.
“Our staff will be targeting the four main behaviours we know contribute to death and serious injury on the road – not wearing your seatbelt, driving impaired (by fatigue, drugs, or alcohol); driving distracted (such as using a cell phone), and speeding.
“These behaviours will again be the main focus of our summer road safety campaign.
“Next week we will launch the first of four social media videos to back up Police’s on-road activity, by getting people to think about these behaviours that put lives in danger on the road.
“If officers witness people undertaking any of these risky behaviours on our roads, or we are advised of risky driver behaviour, we will take action either at the time or by follow up enquiries.
“We will continue to have a strong operational focus on road safety over the higher risk periods, which will involve all Police staff, not just our road policing teams.
“Our staff will be visible and assisting you to get to your destinations safely by targeting unsafe behaviours.”
This
evening, Police in Wellington will launch the summer
campaign through impairment prevention operations.
As
well as ensuring nobody is driving impaired, they will also
be concentrating on general road safety.
NZ Transport
Agency Safety and Environment Director Harry Wilson says the
high number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads
affects families and communities across New Zealand.
“As always, Police will be working incredibly hard to keep New Zealanders safe this summer but all of us need to play our part to ensure we and our loved ones arrive safely.
“We know that following four simple rules can be the difference between a safe or tragic outcome on the road: always wear a seatbelt, don’t drive while impaired or distracted and keep to the speed limit.
“At the end of the day, agencies can’t do this
alone.
We need everyone’s help to keep the roads safe,
road safety is everybody’s responsibility.”
ENDS