Waikato Police: Delivery driver death should serve as warning

Photo / file

The death of a rural paper delivery driver who was not wearing a seatbelt should be a warning to other delivery drivers, Waikato Police said.

New Zealand Herald delivery driver Timothy Jensen, 38, died when his vehicle and a car collided head-on in Waikato on April 22.

The crash happened on Hauraki Rd near State Highway 2, not far from Kerepehi, about 5.20am, police said.

Mr Jensen's car was on the wrong side of the road at the time of the crash and he was not wearing a seatbelt.

By law, newspaper delivery drivers can be exempt from wearing a seatbelt if the vehicle is being driven under 50km/h.

District Road Policing Manager Inspector Freda Grace said Mr Jensen was the only fatality.

"In expressing our sympathies on behalf of NZ Police to his family for their loss I also find myself reflecting on if he had been wearing a seatbelt, could this have save his life?

"From a prevention perspective, we urge drivers to consider their safety first and where applicable apply their seatbelts."

It was also important to note there was no legal dispensation allowing people delivering goods to drive on the wrong side of the road, Mrs Grace said.