Drivers ignore basics over Easter weekend

Lysette Brown was driving north on the Coatesville-Riverhead Highway, northwest of Auckland, when her vehicle collided with a truck.

Basic precautions are needed to reduce the road toll, the country's acting top road cop says following the highest Easter road toll in three years.

Four people died in crashes Easter weekend, the highest number of road deaths for the period in three years. Last Easter, three people died. There were no deaths in the same period in 2012.

Acting national road policing manager Inspector Nic Brown said the deaths this year were tragic and disappointing.

"Sadly, it's still the simple things that are seeing too many people killed and injured. We ask everyone to do their bit by slowing down, wearing their seatbelt, staying off the booze and driving to the road and weather conditions ... it's basic stuff."

Police would be maintaining a highly visible presence on the roads for the remainder of the week as many holidaymakers enjoyed an extended Easter and Anzac Day break.

A reduced 4km/h speed threshold would be strictly enforced through until 6am next Monday, Mr Brown said.

The first fatality was on Thursday at 5.20pm when a 44-year-old female driver from Twizel died on the Fairlie-Tekapo Road in South Canterbury. Speed, the vehicle's poor condition and bad weather were contributing factors, police said.

The driver was not believed to have been wearing a seatbelt.

Shortly afterwards, Alofaifo Afaese, 40, of Helensville, died when the Mitsubishi Pajero in which she was travelling with her husband and two of their children was involved in a collision with a Subaru on State Highway 16 west of Kumeu.

On Friday about 3.15am, Alan Hammond, 80, of Ashburton was struck by a vehicle on the Hinds-Rangitata Highway in South Canterbury. He died as a result of his injuries.

Speed and wet conditions are believed to be factors in a crash that cost an Auckland woman her life about 7.20am Tuesday.

Lysette Michelle Brown, 27, from Whenuapai, was heading north on the Coatesville-Riverhead Highway when her vehicle collided with a truck travelling in the opposite direction. APNZ