Tauranga officer's design initiative

Tauranga police officer Senior Constable Darren Adams has designed a sticker as a subliminal reminder to drivers to check their speed or risk clocking up demerit points.

The sticker can be placed in the empty space of an RPM counter or speedo where it would be frequently seen without causing a distraction or restricting visibility.

"It is not an enforcement tactic; purely educational and completely voluntary," a statement by Bay of Plenty police said on facebook today.

However, staff would be encouraging high risk drivers who were accumulating demerit points to make use of the sticker.

"Most motorists don't keep track of their demerit status, and often it's only when they reach 100 demerits and face the inconvenience of having their licence suspended that realisation sets in," the statement said.

Mr Adams predominantly works with youth; a group particularly at risk of becoming road crash victims or offenders and he is keen to see young drivers getting on board the initiative and parents of young drivers also promoting use of the sticker.

"Ideally we want people to keep their speed down purely because it is the safest way to drive. Most drivers don't go out with the intention of killing or injuring someone but unfortunately it can happen when drivers take their eye off the ball," Mr Adams said.

"There is also a minority of people who are happy to disregard the rules unless it directly impacts on their own lives. It's important to remember that having a driver's licence is a privilege not a right; licences are for people who are deemed responsible to make good driving decisions. We hope a frequent but subtle reminder that the privilege could be taken away will encourage greater driver responsibility."

The trial of the stickers is currently in the Western Bay of Plenty but if deemed a success, consideration will be given to wider distribution. Anyone wanting stickers can get them from the Tauranga and Tauranga South Police Stations.