Assistant Police Commissioner Bruce O'Brien responds to the harrowing road death toll, just months after the launch of the Road to Zero campaign. Video / NZ Herald
Police are begging people to slow down and make good decisions when driving after a "heartbreaking" weekend where 11 people died on New Zealand's roads.
A person died in a single-vehicle crash on Saulbrey Rd, Ngāruawāhia in the Waikato yesterday.
Police were notified just before 8pm that a vehicle had collided with a power pole, bringing the line down.
"Sadly, one person died at the scene," police said. "The other three occupants were transported to hospital with serious, moderate and minor injuries."
The Serious Crash Unit attended and the investigation is continuing.
Assistant police commissioner Bruce O'Brien said it was "totally unacceptable" that so many people had died over a few days.
"On top of that, there will be people who survived crashes who will be left with life-changing injuries. Some people have months of recovery, some people sadly never recover."
Police had an important role keeping people safe, and did not apologise for their focus on speeding and distracted drivers.
Police had a target to reduce road deaths by 40 per cent by 2030 but could not do that on their own - drivers and riders had to take some responsibility, he said.
"It's not hard and I'm struggling to understand how we are still having this conversation. We are simply asking that people treat driving, or motorbike riding, with the care and respect it deserves."
That meant slowing down, paying attention, not driving after drinking and always wearing a seatbelt or helmet.
"I feel for the families and friends who are grieving the loss of their loved ones right now. Their lives have been changed forever."
People should also take keys off family or friends who were too drunk to drive, and talk to people who liked to speed, O'Brien said.
"Tell them you care about them and you're worried about the potential consequences of their actions."
Waka Kotahi (NZ Transport Agency) director of land transport Kane Patena said for every person killed another seven were seriously injured - many suffering permanent damage.
"It's time that as a country we stopped accepting that a certain amount of death and serious injury is just the price we pay for our mobility."
New Zealand's Road to Zero strategy was based on the belief that no one deserves to die or be seriously injured on our roads, even when they make mistakes, Patena said.
Waka Kotahi's role included making all parts of the system safer including roads, vehicles, speeds and people.
Four teenagers died in Friday's crash in Invercargill after a ute collided with truck. Photo / George Heard
Before last night's crash, 10 people died on the roads since Friday.
On Sunday a motorcyclist died in Raetihi and a motorist died in Herekino. Late on Saturday night a person also died in a single-vehicle crash near Raglan.
On Saturday two motorbike riders were killed - one in Whāngārei and one near Whakatāne - and a person died in a crash in Levin.
