Don’t get all hot and cross, drive safely this Easter
Don’t get all hot and cross, drive safely this Easter
Kia mataara, kia āta haere i ngā rori hei ngā rā o Te Aranga – be cautious and courteous on the road this Easter – that is the message from NZ Police, the NZ Transport Agency, and ACC.
“People need to remember
road safety is everybody’s responsibility,” says
Assistant Commissioner for Road Policing Sandra
Venables.
“Last Easter, poor driver behaviour and speed were the main contributing factors of crashes.
The most
common factors were people not driving to the conditions,
driving under the influence of alcohol, or being
distracted.
“We want all road users to take care of
themselves and their passengers.
“We know the four main
behaviours that contribute to road trauma are going too fast
for the conditions, impairment (such as fatigue, drugs, or
alcohol), distractions (such as using a cell phone), and not
wearing seatbelts.
“I would like to see everybody make
it through the weekend safely.
Our staff will be out on the roads focused on preventing harm and addressing poor driver behaviour.”
NZ Transport Agency Director Safety
and Environment Harry Wilson says because there will be more
people on the roads over the holiday weekend it’s
important to plan ahead and be patient if you are caught up
in traffic.
“We don’t want to see people getting
impatient and taking unnecessary risks such as dangerous
overtaking manoeuvres or following too
closely.
“Everyone can get real-time travel information at www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz, so plan your journey and plan to take regular breaks and share the driving where you can.
We want everyone to get to their destination safely this weekend.
The safety messages absolutely apply to
motorbike riders, who are even more vulnerable, says ACC’s
Chief Customer Officer Mike Tully.
“We’ve had lots of
riders out enjoying the fantastic weather over summer, but
sadly 19 riders and two pillions have lost their lives so
far this year. “As we move towards winter, and more
challenging conditions on the roads, we want people to ride
within their capability; at a pace that feels comfortable,
and to wear good quality safety gear.
“Motorcycle riding is acknowledged as high risk, but knowing how to handle the conditions can reduce that risk. “That’s why we think Ride Forever safety training courses are so great; we’d love to see every rider do a course – it could be a lifesaver,” Mike Tully says.
Assistant Commissioner Venables says even with all our agencies working together, we still need all road users to be responsible and look out for each other, so everyone can get where they’re going safely.
ENDS