Editorial: Common sense starts to prevail

Opinion

The great Kiwi summer holiday will come to an end for many of us tomorrow evening. We'll pack the tents, hitch the caravan, and run the gauntlet of the highways, hoping and praying that we and our families arrive home safely and in one piece.

This year's holiday road toll has been relatively low - just nine as at 8pm last night, compared with 25 for the entire period last year. The official holiday period ends at 6am on Tuesday.

The overall 2009 road toll of 384 was the second lowest in 40 years but this is no comfort for the families of those victims or the 2500 others seriously maimed in accidents. Indeed, in announcing the toll, Transport Minister Steven Joyce had a sombre tone - much more work had to be done to cut the toll even further, he said. "We have seen little progress in reducing the number of serious injuries as a result of road crashes in the last 10 years."

Last year's toll was tracking at a much higher rate until the last three months. Experts believe publicity around new laws on cellphone use, drugged drivers and illegal street racing led to the smallest number of road deaths ever recorded in October, November and December. It's a trend that continued into the holidays.

There's a sense New Zealanders are becoming far less blase in their attitudes towards road safety. Hundreds of motorists have been switching on their headlights during the day this summer. This action will become law in Europe next year, and strong consideration must be given to the proposal here, just as it has been made compulsory for motorcyclists. Dog and Lemon Guide editor Clive Matthew-Wilson says it's a no-brainer - lights on during the day prevent accidents and save lives. It is likely that one day we will wonder - just as it has been with motorway median barriers - why daytime headlights were not made compulsory earlier.

There are, of course, more inherent issues that need to be addressed if we are to further cut the toll. Next month, the Government will announce a new phase in its attack on the road toll, with indications that roading design and the graduated licence system will come in for special attention, along with the other usual targets of drink-drivers and younger drivers.

The Automobile Association is spot on to state that there needs to be a much broader focus on safety issues. New Zealanders have become immune to shock road safety ads and easily angered when they see a speed camera planted in an area with no discernible safety problems.

"Crashes don't just happen when people disobey the road rules," says the AA's Simon Lambourne. "There is good evidence that driver distraction, drowsiness and poor handling are far more common causes of crashes."

It's easy for do-gooders to say roads don't kill people - these people conveniently forget the foibles of human nature. Some roads are unsafe and far less forgiving than others. Properly constructed roads have the ability to save the lives of drivers whose momentary lack of attention would otherwise lead to carnage and tragedy.

The Government's new state highways plan will save lives. The kinks in roads such as The Unforgiving Highway - State Highway 2 around Maramarua, south of Auckland - are being ironed out. The horror stretch between Kapiti and Wellington will be a distant memory when the new Transmission Gully highway is constructed.

And it's also important to note that it's not just boy-racers and younger drivers. Seventy-nine people aged 60-plus were killed last year - the highest number in at least three years. Just over 100 people aged between 15 and 24 were killed - the lowest number in at least three years.

Tomorrow, as thousands brave the roads, remember some simple rules. Drive safely. Turn on the headlights. And if you are feeling tired, take a break. Happy New Year.