Drive to survive - police message to motorists for long weekend

A reduced tolerance of no more than 4km/h above the speed limit will be strictly enforced from 4pm today until 6am on April 28. Photo / File

Police are urging all motorists to heed their "drive to survive" message over the Easter break.

Thousands of Kiwis are expected to hit the roads to make the most of an extended break over Easter and Anzac Day, and with bad weather expected to lash the country police are asking drivers to slow down.

National road policing manager Superintendent Carey Griffiths said a reduced tolerance of no more than 4km/h above the speed limit would be strictly enforced from 4pm today until 6am on Monday April 28 — the end of the weekend after Anzac Day.

He said extending the threshold to cover both long weekends followed the success of the reduced speed campaign over the summer, which led to a drop in road deaths and injuries.

"This is a logical step given the unusually long holiday period and the fact that many people will be taking the whole 10 days off and travelling in greater numbers," said Mr Griffiths.

Police would also be targeting distracted drivers, drink driving and "other unsafe behaviour".

"We know people make mistakes on the road, but that shouldn't cost you or someone else life or limb.

"The speed you are travelling at is what determines whether you have time to react to those mistakes — or whether you become another crash statistic.

"People have a simple choice whether or not to speed, and there is irrefutable evidence that reducing your speed by even small amounts can make all the difference in whether you walk away from a crash or are carried away."

Mr Griffiths hoped for a repeat of Easter Weekend in 2012 and Queens Birthday Weekend last year, when there were no road deaths.

"It would be outstanding if we were able to repeat that result this weekend — and beyond."

Easter roads

• The Easter holiday period runs from 4pm the night before Good Friday and finishes at 6am the morning after Easter Monday.

• Last year three people were killed in crashes.

• Police will enforce a 4km/h speed threshold starting at 4pm today and running until 6am on Monday, April 28.