Keep left message is working

A regional road safety campaign currently running in the Taupo and South Waikato Districts appears to be having an impact on drivers.

Operation Centreline has billboards and advertising urging drivers to “KEEP LEFT: lives are on the line”. The message is designed to remind drivers of the consequences of crossing the centreline.

Senior Sergeant Murray Hamilton of Taupo Police says that in recent weeks there have been fewer road crashes than normal.

“We are having a good run on the roads at the moment,” says Senior Sergeant Hamilton. “As soon as drivers cross the centreline they’re risking a major crash so we’ll be targeting people who aren’t keeping left, or driving within their lane,” he says.

Statistically, 51 percent of road crashes occur when drivers cross the centreline. The main factors causing drivers to cross the centre line are inattention, fatigue, not driving to the conditions, and speed.

Operation Centreline will continue until the end of October.