Road toll down 'but long way to go'

By PAULA OLIVER AND NZPA

The annual road toll is at its lowest point in almost 40 years - but safety campaigners warn that a month of carnage on the roads proves drivers still have a long way to go.

The toll last year was 452, 10 fewer than the previous year.

The fall to the lowest level since 1964 continues a trend that has seen road deaths fall steadily in the past five years.

But although the overall result is pleasing for police, a series of accidents that have killed 57 people in December alone has tempered any celebrations.

Land Transport Safety Authority director David Wright yesterday said that the past month was proof that people could not rest on their laurels.

"It's clear that the hard work of the recent years has helped save lives, but last month's toll shows how quickly these gains can be lost.

"There is no room for complacency."

At the beginning of last year the LTSA said it hoped the 2001 toll could be held to around 420.

But that hope was destroyed by last month's toll, particularly during the current holiday period.

The official holiday toll rose to 21 on Monday after a smash near Meremere claimed four lives.

Police and the LTSA yesterday urged drivers heading home from holiday spots to be vigilant.

"The two themes or trends in the holiday period's accidents have been speed and fatigue," Mr Wright said. "So please, stop if you get tired, and plan to arrive alive."

The introduction of the highway patrol is being credited with playing a significant role in the reduction of last year's road toll.

Mr Wright said the patrol's work had generally slowed the speed of drivers, and a crackdown on seatbelts, drink-driving and unlicensed drivers had been successful.

Laws come into effect in April that require all cars entering New Zealand to have frontal impact systems - a move that authorities hope will further cut the toll.

A series of proposals, including a reduction in the alcohol limit per 100ml of blood from 80mg to 50mg, are now being reviewed by the office of Transport Minister Mark Gosche.

A decision is expected early this year.

Mr Wright said the LTSA supported a drop in the alcohol limit.

"There is still a significant number of people in crashes who have 50 to 80mg of alcohol in their blood.

"Overseas, countries are moving towards the lower level, and indeed most of Europe is there now."

The cut has also been supported by the police, Transit NZ and ACC.

Experts say the new limit would make it safe to have only one drink - although people were affected differently by alcohol.

A controversial proposal to reduce the speed limit to 90 km/h from 100 km/h had been dropped because of a lack of support.

Meanwhile, police have a new request for speeding drivers - stop whingeing when you get a ticket.

"We've had a gutsful of people blaming police for giving them a ticket when they are clearly exceeding the speed limit," said Inspector Dave Cliff, head of traffic in the Southern district.

"We get the usual rubbish from drivers about us simply being out there for revenue gathering.

"We can't stop yawning every time we hear that," he said.

Mr Cliff said police patrolling the district's highways had been instructed to show no leniency towards drivers who exceeded the speed limit by more than 11 km/h.

Research had shown drivers travelling more than 10 km/h above the limit were twice as likely to be involved in an injury crash than other motorists, he said.

"If people travel faster than that, then they should know they are going to be ticketed.

"Don't blame us, they're the ones breaking the law."

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