Police urge care on roads this Labour Weekend

Police are urging all road users to have a safe weekend this Labour Weekend and are reminding drivers of the lowered speed tolerance of 4km/hr.

"Lowering the tolerance has made a real difference to the number of deaths on the roads over the holiday periods", said Superintendent Carey Griffiths, the newly appointed National Manager of Road Policing.

"But is not enough to assume that this is all we need to do. We need every driver out on the roads this weekend to take responsibility for themselves and their passengers.

“During Labour Weekend in 2011, eight people died and 17 suffered serious injuries in road crashes, while 92 more people received minor injuries. The challenge for every one of us on the roads this weekend is to not see a repeat of those statistics.

“The fact that New Zealand marked its first ever fatality free Easter weekend this year shows that it can be done,” Superintendent Griffiths said. “We urge everyone on the roads this weekend to do all they can to make it a fatality free Labour weekend as well.”

Over this weekend, along with the continued focus on speed, Police will also target following distances.

“Police also ask slower drivers to be mindful of other road users by keeping an eye on their mirrors and pulling over where safe to allow other traffic to pass. This helps reduce potential frustration that can lead to unsafe overtaking and other risky behaviour.”

Holiday driving requires extra care and patience, and with so many more drivers on the roads, following distances become particularly important.

As a rule of thumb, you need 20 metres (or five car lengths) to stop at 50km, while at 70km you need seven car lengths, and at 100km you need 10 car lengths.  Alternatively, to ensure a safe following distance, allow at least two seconds between yourself and the vehicle in front in dry weather, and at least four seconds in wet weather.

From today, Police are also rolling out 45 new mobile differential speed cameras to replace the 31 currently in use. This takes advantage of advances in technology that allow the automatic detection of speeding heavy and towing vehicles, which are restricted to 90 km/h on the open road.

This has until now been enforced by camera operators manually.

“Use of this technology will assist in bringing the mean speeds of heavy and towing motor vehicles down to safer levels, which is of benefit to all road users,” Superintendent Griffiths said.

“Speed is a particular risk for these vehicles, with factors including increased distances required to stop safely, rollover when cornering and load security.”

The official holiday period for Labour Weekend 2012 begins at 4pm today (19 October) and ends at 6am Tuesday 23 October.

For statistical information on holiday road toll, go to:
http://www.transport.govt.nz/ourwork/land/landsafety/holidayroadtolllabourweekend/

For further information contact:

Friday 19 October only: Victoria Evans Ph (04) 474 9482 or 0274 373 020.
Superintendent Griffiths is available for media interviews this afternoon between 2pm - 4pm.

For national media queries relating to road policing over the weekend (Sat 20 Oct – Mon 22 Oct), please contact the after hours media pager: 026 101 082.

Superintendent Griffiths will be available for media interviews over the weekend at the following times:
9:00am - 10:00am Saturday 20 October
3:00pm - 4:00pm Saturday 20 October
9:00am - 10:00am Sunday 21 October
3:00pm - 4:00pm Sunday 21 October
9:00am - 10:00am Monday 22 October
2:30pm - 3:30pm Monday 22 October

Media please note, Supt Griffiths will not be available for media interviews on Tuesday morning (23 October) before 0800am.