Road Safety Week 2026: Frontline paramedic on ‘ripple effects’ of preventable Northland road crashes

Northern Rescue Helicopter critical care paramedic Emily Holmes. Photo / Steve Macmillan

Road Safety Week is in full swing and today Northern Rescue Helicopter critical care paramedic Emily Holmes talks about how a split‑second mistake can destroy lives — and leave rescuers dealing with the aftermath.

After 16 years on the frontline, Emily Holmes has seen more road crashes than she would like. The worst involved the deaths of two parents and a child.

“I have attended an accident at a location where a son died and later attended another accident involving the father at the same location,” she said.

“It was awful – families being ripped apart. It’s pretty rough to attend incidents like that."

Unfortunately, like all first responders, she has attended countless accidents that are preventable.

“It is really tough when you are at a road crash and relatives in the vehicle ask if their loved ones are alive and you have to tell them: ‘No and that right now our priority is working on those still alive’.”

Holmes has been blown away by some of the survival stories she has seen given the injuries suffered.

“What people forget is the trauma survivors are left with. That can be with them for a lifetime.”

Despite having attended hundreds of road crashes, many fatal, Holmes is always happy to help when needed.

“Seeing the relief on the faces of the patient and their families when you arrive on the scene to provide help, and how much you can make a difference to their day when you just provide that reassurance they need.”

Holmes believes the basics of road safety and driver attention can prevent fatal crashes.

“Things like not reaching for your phone or something you have dropped,” she said.

“The ripple effects on a family member and beyond due to that split-second decision are immense. Drivers need to remember they are not invincible. None of us are.”

Holmes enjoys working alongside a great team of paramedics, pilots and first responders – combining to provide a critical lifeline to Northland communities.

“Being able to reach isolated and rural communities quickly and provide them with medical services and transport them to an appropriate hospital is very satisfying.”

Brake New Zealand says the number of fatal crashes in New Zealand is declining, but not fast enough.

In 2025, 272 people died on the roads nationwide. That was down from 291 in 2024. Northland recorded 23 road deaths last year, compared with 27 in 2024.

The charity is spearheading Road Safety Week, which urges greater awareness of the risks of driving and a call to action for infrastructure improvements.

Northland Road Safety Week runs until Sunday. The annual Road Safety Hero run/walk of the Hātea Loop, Whangārei, takes place at 1pm on Friday. There the 24 lives lost in Northland road crashes in 2025 will be acknowledged.

“Road Safety Week in Northland is also a chance to highlight road safety heroes and champions in our community who do amazing mahi around road safety,” Northland Road Safety Trust manager Ashley Johnston said.

To register for the 2026 Road Safety Heroes walk/run, fill out this form.