Police plea for safer roads this Christmas

Senior Sergeant Ian Campion of Tauranga Police is urging people to watch their speed. Photo/file

As traffic becomes increasingly heavy this Christmas and New Year, Western Bay of Plenty police are pleading for motorists to take extra care.

Western Bay road policing team co-ordinator Senior Sergeant Ian Campion said it was a high risk time on local roads and traffic volumes around Mount Maunganui and coastal areas increased significantly.

In the Western Bay of Plenty, 19 people have died on our roads this year.

This was the worst result since 2003 and no one wanted to see it increase further, Mr Campion said.

"Many families will be dealing with the grief of losing a loved one on our roads this Christmas, we've all seen the media reports of recent road deaths.

"We don't want to have to break this news to anyone else that their loved ones aren't coming home."

Mr Campion said everyone made mistakes.

''We all have the tendency to think it won't happen to us, but what people need to realise is that it can happen to anyone, regardless of how many years you have been driving or what vehicle you are driving."

Mr Campion said drivers were often pushed for time, stressed and rushing around with other things in addition to being tired.

Fatigue and distractions were factors at this time of year and could lead to mistakes on the roads, so police asked motorists to adjust their driving to account for this.

"If motorists take simple steps such as watching following distances, delaying travel if they're tired, or perhaps choosing a time to travel when it's less busy and congested, that's going to go a long way to helping you reach your destination safely," Mr Campion said.

Wearing seatbelts and putting away phones were among the things that could help make roads safer.

Like previous summers, speed cameras would be positioned in high risk crash areas and were set to enforce a reduced speed threshold of 4km/h from December 1 through until January 31.

"While we will be out there working hard alongside our road safety partners to keep people safe this summer, we need the public to do their bit as we can't be in the vehicle with them.

"It comes down to making good decisions, like choosing to drive to the speed limit and the conditions, ensuring everyone is buckled up and not driving while impaired," Mr Campion said.

Police ask drivers to:
• Check your speed.
• Reduce your speed in adverse conditions.
• Allow enough time for your journey and don't rush.
• Make sure you and everyone in your car wears a seatbelt or has the appropriate restraint.
• Above all, drive considerately and with patience - the way we drive affects others.