With the festive season fast approaching, locals are being reminded to prioritise safety on the roads.

Police have announced an increased presence across New Zealand during the Christmas break, aiming to ensure that everyone reaches their destination safely.

Superintendent Steve Greally, Director of Road Policing, emphasised the need for motorists to play their part alongside law enforcement efforts.

“Drivers need to be clear that if they are detected speeding or driving impaired by alcohol or drugs, they will be ticketed,” he said.

“The best way to avoid being ticketed is not to speed, not to drive drunk or under the influence of drugs. It’s that simple.”

Last Christmas period, 21 lives were tragically lost in road crashes.

Police and road safety partners are working to prevent a repeat of such devastation.

To achieve this, there will be a coordinated, highly visible police presence at high-risk locations, including State Highways and rural areas, especially during peak travel times.

The focus remains on addressing the four key behaviours contributing to road deaths and injuries: speeding, impaired driving, distractions such as mobile phone use, and failure to use seatbelts.

Superintendent Greally highlighted the importance of enforcement, stating, “Since 1 July, we have conducted over 2 million breath tests nationally. This should be viewed as a motivating factor for all motorists to drive safely.”

Holiday road toll data will be updated throughout the season by the Ministry of Transport.

Historical crash data for previous holiday periods is also available at Ministry of Transport website.

Locals are encouraged to do their part to make this holiday season a safe one.

By driving responsibly, we can ensure a summer to remember for all the right reasons.

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