Dob in bad drivers, says Government

Motorists were encouraged to dob in bad drivers as the holiday road toll climbed to 14 last night, and speed was highlighted as a major contributor to deaths.

The toll for the whole holiday period last year was 11.

The latest death occurred at 10.36pm when a car crashed into a tree at the intersection of Port Hills and Chapmans Rds in Christchurch.

The male driver died at the scene.

Around 1.45pm yesterday, a man was killed in a collision between a car and a light truck in Seddon, south of Blenheim.

Just 15 minutes earlier, Luke William Newman, aged 18, was fatally injured when thrown from his motorbike on remote Tuna Tuna Beach, near Ahipara in Northland.

Senior Sergeant Gordon Gunn said Mr Newman was performing "fishtail" moves when he lost control and was thrown from the bike. He was wearing a helmet and protective gear but died at the scene.

Police predict the road toll will reach 20 by the end of the holiday period at 6am next Wednesday.

Transport Safety Minister Harry Duynhoven yesterday called for Parliament to consider tougher penalties to bring down the toll but, in the meantime, urged motorists not to tolerate bad road behaviour and to report dangerous driving.

"If you come to a place where you see someone who has driven like an idiot, talk to them, tell them. That might result in a punch in the head, so you've got to exercise a bit of discretion. Because people get away with it and feel they are in some way immune, they keep on doing it."

Mr Duynhoven said society had to show the same level of intolerance with bad drivers as it had with drink drivers.

The national road policing manager, Superintendent Dave Cliff, said passengers should speak up if they were concerned about the actions of the person at the wheel.

Mr Cliff said the holiday road toll highlighted that speeding was "still a major killer on our roads".

"It is absolutely critical that we do get those speeds down."

The Waikato road policing manager, Inspector Leo Tooman, said "a small minority" was spoiling road safety for every other motorist.

"Some of the speeds have been up, which is concerning. There is also tailgating going on."

Mr Duynhoven said overtaking on double yellow lines and running red lights were contributing to the toll, and he would like tougher penalties. The offenders should have their licences suspended.

The Government would also be considering other issues, including driver distraction, to combat road fatalities.

A year-long study into driver distraction - including the use of cellphones in vehicles - by the Ministry of Transport is due to go to the Government early in the new year.

"Distraction is a big, big feature in the road toll," said Mr Duynhoven. He said motorists caught running red lights and passing on double yellow lines should have their licences suspended.

Mr Cliff said he supported Mr Duynhoven. "They are classically dangerous offences, particularly the yellow line one. It's a head-on waiting to happen." 

* To dob in bad drivers dial *555 on your cellphone.



How NZ rates

Fatalities per 100,000 people.
* America 14.66
* New Zealand 10.30
* Germany 9.30
* Japan 8.30
* Australia 8.21
* Canada 6.71
* Britain 6.10
* Sweden 6
Source: Monash University, Accident Research Centre. 2003 figures.