Sergeant Santa: 'we want you here for Christmas'

The new police video starring Sergeant Santa and a furry helper.

"We want you here for Christmas." That's the message police are pushing as a year that has seen a record number of people killed on our roads draws to a close.

Summer has kicked off today and as many people start to hit the highways around the country to take a break away police have launched a campaign in a desperate bid to get motorists to stay safe.

Ministry of Transport figures showed in the year to date there have been 339 deaths on our roads - 42 more than the same time in 2016.

With just a month left to go in 2017 this figure is already far higher than any of the annual road tolls in the last five years.

Assistant commissioner for road policing Sandra Venables said more people had been killed on our roads this year than any year since 2010 when 375 died.

"These tragedies impact not only those killed or injured, but their friends
and family as well," she said.

The police campaign, that runs under the slogan, "We want you here for Christmas" is being run together with the NZ Transport Agency.

Four videos will be pushed out on social media to help get the safety message across in a "light-hearted way" with guest appearances from Santa and some cute little pups named Fitzy and Tumeke.

The social media campaign will be centred around the major factors contributing to a crash - going too fast for the conditions, not wearing a seatbelt, fatigue, drugs or alcohol and distractions, such as using a cellphone.

As well as the online campaign officers will be out on the streets in force, doing random breath testing, alcohol checkpoints and checks on seatbelts.

NZ Transport Agency Safety and Environment director Harry Wilson said in a crash the single biggest determinant in whether anyone is killed, injured or walks away unharmed is speed.

He urged people to actively take responsibility on the roads.

Venables said keeping people safe on the road was not something police alone could do.

"Police cannot do this alone, we need everyone's help to keep our roads safe.

"We want you here for Christmas."