#SaveKidsLives: Rewards for good drivers

Tamzin Roberts headed out with Constable Daniel Bartlett to spot vehicles travelling at a safe speed for the launch of Northland's Safe Speed Drivers Project. Photo / Michael Cunningham

With her clipboard in hand and high visibility vest on, Tamzin Roberts geared up to head out with police and play good cop for a project launch marking the first day of the United Nations Global Road Safety week.

Yesterday, the safety week, themed #SaveKidsLives kicked off and, to mark the day, Northland's Safe Speed Drivers Project was launched.

The project is about rewarding good driver behaviour. While speedsters would be issued tickets from police, volunteers would be in charge of taking down registration numbers of vehicles driving within the posted speed limit. The safe drivers would then go into a draw to win a $150 voucher.

Ms Roberts was the first volunteer to patrol with police and went with Constable Daniel Bartlett to Kamo Rd.

"It'll be quite interesting to observe safe and unsafe driving from this perspective," said Ms Roberts.

Roadsafe Northland education manager Gillian Archer said speed was a factor in eight out of every 10 crashes. Ms Roberts said she hoped others would learn from this campaign and slow down.

"You don't need to be in such a hurry, just take it easy. Just seeing the number of car crashes lately, this is an awesome initiative to get involved with."

The importance of driving at a safe speed is an aspect highlighted as part of the UN Global Road Safety week. Caroline Perry, director of New Zealand road safety charity Brake NZ, said moments of impatience could be deadly.

"It's particularly devastating when a child or young person is killed, their future is lost, and their family is left to pick up the pieces."

She said Far North REAP planned to launch a road safety programme in schools and a billboard made by a local graffiti artist promoting road safety.