A national campaign to make sure every road user makes it safely through the holiday break into the New Year and beyond stepped up in force last night, as a joint emergency services and local authorities highway checkpoint was established on the Hawke's Bay Expressway.
It was one of the biggest multi-agency checkpoints ever in Hawke's Bay, starting at 6pm on the expressway between Links Rd and the Ngaruroro Bridge.
About 20 police officers were joined by crews from Fire and Emergency NZ and St John Ambulance, helped by personnel from Roadsafe Hawke's Bay, Maori Wardens and a road contracting firm, and mayors of Napier and Hastings Bill Dalton and Sandra Hazelhurst respectively.
The campaign combined as many agencies as possible who might be linked in the Christmas tragedies the operation aimed to avoid. Senior staff recorded on-camera messages imploring everyone to make it home safely.
Eastern Police District road policing manager Matt Broderick said about 3000 vehicles were expected to pass through the checkpoint over the fours to about 10pm, when some of the team were expecting to shift camp to focus on traffic leaving a concert being held at Black Barn Winery.