Editorial: No room for road toll complacency

There has been a increased police presence on the roads with more drink-driving checkpoints and a 4km/h tolerance to keep the road toll down.

Barring any catastrophes in the few remaining days of the year, the 2013 road toll is likely to be the country's lowest total in more than 60 years.

It is a statistic, while yet to be realised, that I would hope provides some comfort to those whose year has been spent keeping us, and our roads, safe.

But not to get complacent, this month police began enforcing a 4km/h speed tolerance.

While this particular technique has been previously used during public-holiday weekends when many spend their weekend out of town, this time it is being enforced for the entirety of December and January.

There also appears to be an increased police presence on the roads, including more drink-driving checkpoints.

This hardline approach must be paying dividends. And the statistics certainly support it.

Personally, the 4km/h speed tolerance has been at the front and centre of my thoughts when travelling the past few weeks.

Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of our emergency services, this year's likely "low" road toll still makes for grim reading.

Figures available at the beginning of the weekend put it at 245. Commendable when compared with our year-on-year count but in reality it remains a blight.

A police pursuit on Friday night which ended with a vehicle ploughing through a power pole is a stark reminder how close two people came to adding to it.

Be patient and vigilant on the roads this holiday season and our low road toll might continue to lower.