Let's keep road toll low say Police

By CATHY ARONSON

The road toll has plummeted by 30 deaths this year - and police are still warning motorists to take care over Queen's Birthday weekend.

A total of 179 people had died from road accidents by yesterday and there were fewer deaths each month this year compared with last. April had its lowest toll since records began in 1965 and the past two years have been record lows.

Last year's total toll was 455, compared with 651 in 1991.

During last year's Queen's Birthday weekend five people were killed, 26 seriously hurt and 99 suffered minor injuries. All the deaths and half the injuries happened as a result of open-road crashes; more than a third involved loss of vehicle control.

The lowest Queen's Birthday toll in the past 20 years was when two people died in 1995. The worst was in 1981 when 15 people were killed.

This weekend, police want drivers to take care, check the weather and drive to the conditions as they head out. Westerly winds and showers are expected.

Drivers should also check tyres before leaving home.

Land Transport Safety Authority director David Wright said travellers should give themselves plenty of time to get to their destination.

"There will be heavy traffic and there may be winter weather to contend with, but that doesn't mean we should throw in the towel and accept that we're going to kill several people on the roads this weekend."

Police national road safety manager Superintendent Steve Fitzgerald said more highway patrols had helped take dangerous drivers and cars off the road.

Since police were given the power to impound vehicles in May 1999, the number of people caught driving disqualified had dropped nearly 40 per cent, from an average of 1100 a month to 683.

The Land Transport Safety Authority says better roads, safer cars, enforcement and advertising had helped cut the toll.

Feature: Cutting the road toll

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