Police reduce road deaths in Marlborough

Increased policing efforts are reducing road deaths in Marlborough, says Inspector Hugh Flower, Tasman district highway patrol head.

This year two people have died on Marlborough roads, compared with nine at the same time last year.

Mr Flower said Operation Life, which operates a ticket per hour system, and the formation of a state highway patrol were major factors in reducing the road toll and had come into effect because of the "appalling" road toll on State Highway 1.

Last year 15 people lost their lives on Marlborough roads, a 20-year high.

Ticketing for speeding and drink-driving has increased in Marlborough. From July 2002 to April 2003 police gave out 247 tickets for drink-driving-related offences in Marlborough, compared with 136 tickets at the same time the previous year.

- NZPA

Herald Feature: Cutting the road toll