Public quick to dob in drivers

Drivers contacting the *555 number to complain about poor driving have increased. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Complaints about traffic offences in Northland increased and police say reports from members of the public help make roads safer.

Police figures show the number of complaints about bad driving in the Northland policing district rose from 7477 in the 2013-14 financial year to 8028 last financial year.

The data includes 111 emergency calls and *555 traffic lines or events discovered by police. Events reported multiple times are recorded once in the data.

Northland road policing manager Inspector Wayne Ewers said members of the public were continually encouraged to call *555 or 111 to report bad driving, road hazards, wandering stock and unauthorised street racing.

"It is only with the help of the public that we will make our roads and highways a safer place to be."

Figures show animals were the subject of 759 traffic-related events reported in Northland in the past financial year.

Mr Ewers said wandering stock were a serious hazard to road users, particularly on dark rural highways.

Stock-owners and farmers were encouraged to ensure all their stock were secure and the public were encouraged to call *555 or 111 to report wandering stock.

Mr Ewers said police communication centres could prioritise any incident or report and provide the right level of response.

Overall, reported traffic-related events rose from 11,303 in the Northland police district in the 2013-14 financial year to 12,205 in the past financial year.

They included 1782 vehicle collisions, 1249 road hazards and 387 reports of street racing.

Nationwide, the number of *555 calls increased by more than 42,000 last financial year on the previous one.

People can dial *555 free from a mobile phone to report road incidents which are urgent but not life-threatening.