Police hope to avoid Queen's Birthday holiday carnage

By Michael Dickison and NZPA

Herald online·

4 Jun, 2010 06:32 AM4 mins to read

File photo / NZ Herald

An average of 4.8 motorists have died over Queen's Birthday weekend in the past five years, with last year marking a 13-year record with 10 deaths and almost 160 injuries.

The fatalities have been spread out evenly across the country, but a four-death crash in Benneydale last year made Waikato roads the deadliest with five deaths in five years.

Northland, the Auckland area and the lower North Island from Levin to Bulls each suffered three Queen's Birthday weekend road deaths in five years.

Police this week warned they would be cracking down on speeding motorists doing as little as 4km/h over the speed limit.

There were 120 accidents in which someone died or was injured during the long weekend last year, police said.

"Our weekends are killing us," said road policing national manager Superintendent Paula Rose.

Road authorities looking to avoid a high Queen's Birthday road toll are urging motorists to stay alert and drive to the conditions.

NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) chief executive Geoff Dangerfield said while police would be working hard to keep the roads safe over the long weekend, drivers also had a responsibility to do everything they could to avoid crashing.

"Road crashes are inflicting a terrible price on families and communities across New Zealand every day, and we don't want another long weekend to be marred by avoidable tragedies," Mr Dangerfield said.

"Each of us can do our part by buckling up, keeping our speeds down and not driving when we are tired or after we've been drinking. These are simple things, and there is no excuse for breaking the road rules and putting others at risk."

Mr Dangerfield said drivers travelling too fast for the conditions were one of the biggest contributors to New Zealand's road tolls, with speed a factor in 29 per cent of last year's road deaths.

"Speeding drivers put everyone using the road at risk. It's important to remember that speed limits are the maximum legal speed that you can travel at on a road in perfect conditions - and road conditions are rarely perfect."

It was also essential for drivers to keep a close watch on weather conditions and road closures, he said.

Last October, a weekend storm stranded 700 travellers on the Desert Road and the Napier-Taupo Highway in metre-deep snow.

NZTA Napier state highways manager Mark Kinvig wanted to be sure the situation would not arise again.

"Conditions can change quickly on the Napier-Taupo road, and it's important motorists check the weather forecast and the road conditions before embarking on their journeys," he said.

"If conditions look dicey we urge motorists to delay their journey until things improve."

Drivers should make sure they leave with a full tank of petrol, and travel with warm clothes and blankets, food, water and a survival kit in case they get stuck, Mr Kinvig said.

Meanwhile, ACC has published a list of tips for a safe Queen's Birthday weekend on the roads, including avoiding driver fatigue, driving to the conditions, and wearing seatbelts.

People should plan to take regular breaks from driving and get plenty of sleep before a journey.

They should also take notice of warning signs of fatigue such as yawning, tired eyes and unintended changes to speed.

Police this week announced they would be prosecuting every driver caught going more than 4km/h over the speed limit this weekend.

The move followed a horror holiday weekend last year, in which 10 people were killed and 159 injured - the highest toll in 13 years, as well as an Easter toll of 11 deaths - the highest in 17 years.

The Queen's Birthday road toll period runs from 4pm today until 6am on Tuesday.

Reported Queen's Birthday road tolls since 2002:

2002: 2

2003: 4

2004: 3

2005: 3

2006: 3

2007: 5

2008: 3

2009: 10

Reported fatal crash locations since 2002:

Northland: Dargaville, Ahipara