Police taking hard line on holiday speed limits

WARNING: Officers will be out in force during Labour Weekend, police are warning Hawke's Bay motorists.PHOTO/PAUL TAYLOR

Police are out in force this long weekend looking for speedsters.

Eastern District road policing manager Matt Broderick said anyone travelling more than 4km/h over a posted speed limit should expect to get a ticket.

"Police urge motorists to play their part in ensuring everyone remembers this weekend for the Rugby World Cup results and not because a loved one died or was seriously injured on the road," he said.

"Police will be enforcing speed limits rigidly and anyone exceeding them can expect to be stopped."

Mr Broderick sent his message from a fatigue stop on State Highway 5, where he would like motorists to stop for a chat.

To assist motorists, police are working with RoadSafe Hawke's Bay and have fatigue stops around the region for the weekend. "Take a break and say hello if you see one," he said.

Motorists should be patient, obey road rules and "ensure fatigue and distractions do not catch you out".

The World Cup would provide opportunities to socialise "but police remind the public to make safe choices in transportation and not combine drinking and driving".

"Remember, getting stopped by a police car is not the worst thing that can happen to you on the road."

Police ran a similar programme for Labour Weekend last year, resulting in only minor incidents from Hawke's Bay motorists, attributed to lower speeds and dry weather. Roads with 80km/h and 100km/h limits recorded fewer motorists ticketed for speeding than 50km/h urban roads.

The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has identified speed as the single biggest road safety issue. The more serious the crash, the more likely speed was a contributing factor. From 2012 to 2014 driver speed was a factor in 29 per cent of fatal crashes and 19 per cent of serious-injury crashes.

For Labour Weekend nationally in 2014 there were three fatalities and 21 serious injuries. NZTA's top tips for a safe Labour Weekend are:

Check your vehicle is safe, allow plenty of time, take rest stops, share the driving and be patient with other drivers.