94 people who died on NZ roads last year would still be alive if they were wearing their seatbelt
In the past five years, more than 300 people who died in New Zealand crashes were not wearing a seat belt.
The Herald, in partnership with the New Zealand Police has launched Belt Up, a four-day series about seatbelt safety aiming to raise awareness and improve safety for all Kiwison our roads.
Police say many of the 93 people who died in crashes last year - the most of any single year - while not properly restrained, could have survived had they been wearing a seatbelt.
Today we look at what is happening out on our roads.
"Everyone will miss her so much and will never be forgotten."
And she could still be alive today if she had been wearing a seatbelt.
Toni Kelsall, 19, died on June 2, 2016, in a crash on Wattle Farm Rd, Auckland.
The above words were written on a Facebook page by her sister, a poignant and heartfelt tribute to a life cut short.
Kelsall was one of almost 100 people who died on New Zealand roads in crashes where they were unrestrained last year.
But her life was not the only one destroyed in the crash that killed her.
Her boyfriend Chase Tangaroa, 21, was driving that day, and is said to be "haunted" by the death of his love.
The Herald was in court in July when Tangaroa was convicted for careless driving causing Kelsall's death.
He was convicted and disqualified from driving for 12 months - his application for a discharge without conviction tossed out by Judge David McNaughton.
The court heard that Kelsall died from serious head injuries when the Ford Falcon Tangaroa was driving hit the back of a parked truck just before 8am on Auckland's Wattle Farm Rd, a 50km/h zone, on June 2 last year.
The truck was parked to the left side of the road but hidden from drivers because of morning sunstrike.
The impact of the crash crushed the passenger's side of the car where Toni was sitting.
"Your girlfriend was not wearing a seatbelt, but as far as I'm concerned you needed to take responsibility for that as well," said Judge McNaughton at sentencing.
"I know you are going to carry the guilt for the rest of your life.
"Clearly all of you loved her dearly and all of you are struggling to move on from this tragedy."
She revealed that she had "difficulty accepting the fact that my daughter is gone and will never return".
After the fatal crash Kelsall's family tried to stay in contact with Tangaroa and support him.
Judge McNaughton said Tangaroa was unlikely to reoffend given the "trauma involved and the burden he now has".
But he declined Tangaroa's application for a discharge without conviction - filed because the he works in construction and operates heavy trucks and diggers.
"It seems that an employer should know what your driving history is, not just for your safety but the entire workplace," said Judge McNaughton.
He also revealed that Tangaroa had a demerit point history for speeding, had his license suspended for three months in 2014, and had a significant history of poor driving from 2012 to 2016.
