Northland police are celebrating the region's lowest road toll in 30 years, but are vowing to get tough on drivers to keep the numbers of people dying on the road down in 2011.
Twenty-two people died in crashes on Northland roads last year - the lowest number of fatalities since 1980.
But the year got off to a tragic start and senior police are warning that speeding, drunk and unrestrained motorists will be targeted during peak summer traffic flows over the next few weeks.
Just 12 days into 2010 four people had died, making it the worst start to a New Year in the past decade.
Thirty-five people were killed in Northland crashes in 2009.
Northland road policing manager Inspector Clifford Paxton said 22 was still too many lives lost given the impact it had on families, friends and the community.
He attributed the low toll to good police work combined with co-operation from New Zealand Land Transport, ACC and Northland Road Safety officials.
He said the Northland public could also give themselves a pat on the back for reducing the carnage.
It was nationally recognised Northland's roads became high risk over summer and police would be highly visible, Mr Paxton said.
Alcohol was a common factor in most of last year's fatal crashes and police would continue to target drunk drivers. They would also take a tough line on speeding drivers and those who failed to buckle up.
Meanwhile, the second decade of the millennium arrived in relative peace and quiet throughout Northland with very few revellers arrested.
In party hotspot Pahia there were 21 arrests including for breach of the peace, possession of cannabis, assault, offensive behaviour and resisting police.
In Kaitaia five arrests were made included four drunk drivers.
Whangarei Sergeant John Fagan said officers in Whangarei reported a relatively quiet night. One of the first arrests in the New Year was made by members of the Traffic Alcohol Group, who were breath testing drivers on Kamo Rd about 6.30am.
A driver, who failed an initial screening test, drove off and broke his arm in his attempts to evade police. An officer tried to take the keys but was dragged about 20 metres by the car. It was found about 150 metres from the check point. The man had fled from the car, scaled a high fence and broke his arm. Police arrested a 28-year-old man in Parihaka later in the day. He was charged with failing to remain stopped and reckless driving. Four other drivers were caught by the police group.
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