Slow down for a safe Labour weekend - Waikato and Bay of
Plenty

The NZ Transport Agency is urging drivers to be patient and slow down on the roads this long weekend.

The NZ Transport Agency is urging drivers to be patient and slow down on the roads this long weekend.

Roads in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty will be surging with holidaymakers heading away for Labour Day weekend and the Transport Agency says it will be working with the Police to keep traffic moving and families safe.

The Transport Agency’s Waikato Bay of Plenty Regional Director, Harry Wilson, said planning before leaving home, together with careful and considerate driving would help people reach their destinations safely.

“We want people to enjoy the break and get home safely,” Mr Wilson said.

“Extra traffic on the road can make driving stressful and more risky, which is why we are urging people to be patient, relax, and enjoy the journey.”

Mr Wilson said over the past five years, 11 people had died and another 31 were seriously injured in Labour Weekend crashes on roads in Waikato and the Bay of Plenty.

“Excessive speed has been a contributing factor in too many of those crashes,” he said.

“Statistics don’t tell the story of the huge impact on family and friends when loved ones have been killed or seriously injured.

“We all have a responsibility to look after ourselves and our families, as well as others we share the road with.

“Many of the roads around our favourite holiday spots are narrow or winding. There is little room to get out of trouble if someone makes a mistake, and they are not designed to be safe at high speeds.

“The Agency urges people to drive at a speed that’s safe and appropriate for the road rather than trying to target the limit.”

Mr Wilson said motorists should expect some delays when travelling through a worksite at the intersection of SH2/ 25 north of Mangatarata in Hauraki District, where a roundabout is being built to replace the old T-intersection.

“Transport Agency contractors will have the roundabout island in place and operating this weekend when traffic will be heavy, going to and from Coromandel Peninsula,” he said.

“There will be two lanes operating for SH2 and SH25 north-bound traffic on the roundabout with a merge further along SH2.”

Traffic management will be in place over the weekend to help keep things moving but some delays are still expected.

Another big Waikato roundabout job, further south at Tirau, is nearing completion and although speed restrictions will remain in place traffic will be able to move freely through the intersection of SH1 and SH5 there.

Two sections of the Waikato Expressway project under construction – at Rangiriri and around Cambridge – also involve speed restrictions but no delays are expected.

 
The SH2/ SH25 roundabout worksite.

The Transport Agency’s top tips for a safe Labour Weekend

• Before hitting the road, take the time to check your vehicle is safe – check the tyres, indicators and lights.
• Allow plenty of time for travel – slow down and make the journey part of the holiday.
• Take regular breaks from driving to avoid fatigue.
• Avoid the busiest peak periods when highways are congested.

Crash stats for Waikato and Bay of Plenty
Data is from Labour Day weekend for the years 2009 - 2013 (crashes occurring between 1600 on the day before the holiday to 0559 on first working day after the holiday). Nationally, 32 people have been killed and nearly 600 more have been injured in Labour Weekend road crashes.

For more information please contact:

Natalie Dixon
Media Manager
Waikato and Bay of Plenty region

T: 07 928 7908
M: 021 928 413
natalie.dixon@nzta.govt.nz