Editorial: Drivers owe it to themselves and others

Police have made it clear they will be out in force this summer. Photo / File

It has been a horror year on New Zealand roads. The toll stands at 359, the worst in seven years.

It is 60 more than at the same time last year. And it is not only drivers and passengers who have been killed.

A staggering 18 cyclists have died on the roads, more than three times the number who died last year.

Sadly, the toll is certain to rise before the year ends. We are heading into some of the busiest days on our roads, as families take off on holiday or do last-minute Christmas shopping.

It is easy for drivers to get distracted, or lose patience with other road users. It is best to take a little extra time and arrive safely at your destination.

Police have made it clear they will be out in force this summer. They despair at the failure of drivers to heed repeated messages and their willingness to take needless risks.

Every Christmas hundreds of drivers consume alcohol before getting behind the wheel to go home, confident they will avoid booze buses.

There is no excuse for the foolish risktakers who get caught, given they are endangering themselves and other road users.

As our story today on the tragic accident in October near Taupo makes clear, the shock waves from fatal road smashes never cease. The head-on crash claimed four lives.

One victim was just 5, and one vehicle occupant who broke both legs remains in hospital.

As with so many crashes, the violent impact of the vehicle smash tore apart lives and families, and left emotional wounds that time struggles to heal.

Those ripples of grief also strike the first responders in whose skilled hands can rest the difference between life and death. They witness terrible scenes on our highways and must devise mechanisms to cope.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if they were spared the painful duty of attending one or two additional fatal accidents in the two weeks that remain this year?

Drivers owe it to themselves, their passengers, other road users and above all their families to take extra care over summer. The toll is too high, but it cannot be changed.

What can change is the risk of becoming another statistic. The way to lower the odds is simple: Belt up, drive safely and respect other road users.