As the school year ends and families prepare for their summer holidays, the NZ Transport Agency is urging drivers to support the Police/ACC safe summer speed enforcement campaign in Auckland and Northland.
Excess speed is a factor behind too many fatal and serious injury crashes during December and January, says the Transport Agency’s Regional Director for Auckland and Northland, Stephen Town.
“Whatever the cause of a crash, the speed at impact determines how badly people are injured and there should be no tolerance for speeding when we know that the outcome can be tragic for those involved,” Mr Town says
The Police/ACC campaign – drivers will be penalised if caught exceeding legal speed limits by more than 4kph – is running from December until to the end of January.
During those two months from December 2007 until January 2013, there have been a total of 68 fatalities in Northland and Auckland, and 574 people have been seriously injured in crashes. (Northland 28 fatalities and 156 seriously injured; Auckland 60 fatalities and 418 seriously injured).
Speed – together with alcohol – was a contributing factor in too many of those crashes, Mr Town says.
“”What the statistics don’t tell you is the huge impact on families and friends whose loved one have been killed or seriously injured.”
Mr Town says before Christmas, the Transport Agency will unveil a new series of roadside billboards along popular tourist routes, including those in Northland that will target speed and alcohol.
The Transport Agency is also working to protect people by ensuring that family vehicles are safe for the holidays through a checklist it calls “TWIRL” – tyres, windscreen (wipers and mirrors), indicators, rust and lights.
“TWIRL represents five key areas of any vehicle and it doesn’t take long to give your car a safety check at home. If people think something’s wrong, take it to an expert for repairs, ” Mr Town says.
More details of TWIRL are available online at www.nzta.govt.nz/checkyourcar(external link)
Mr Town says a roadworthy and serviced vehicle together with a planned trip and patient driving will make a big contribution to a safe summer.
“The Transport Agency does not want anyone to experience a tragedy at anytime, and we are asking drivers to do their part by sticking to the speed limit when families celebrate summer together and support the Police/ACC campaign.”
