Police urge care on Western Bay of Plenty roads on Anniversary Weekend

Police are urging drivers to take care on Western Bay of Plenty roads over the Anniversary Weekend holiday period.

Drivers can expect to experience heavy traffic flows with the build up to Anniversary Weekend which will worsen should we experience inclement weather conditions, says Senior Sergeant Ian Campion.

S/Sgt Campion says drivers need to reduce speeds, respect following distances, drive to the conditions and be patient, taking extra care during overtaking manoeuvres.

Holiday driving requires special care, consideration, concentration and planning. It’s important that drivers give themselves plenty of time to make their journey safely, take regular breaks and ensure everyone in the vehicle is wearing their seat belt or properly restrained in an approved child restraint.

Truck drivers and drivers of light vehicles towing trailers or caravans will need to take extra special care during periods of heavy traffic volume ensuring they drive to the conditions, secure loads properly and regularly pull over to allow faster traffic to overtake safely.

During wet conditions drivers are reminded to slow down, comply with advisory speed signs on bends and apply the four second rule when following other traffic. State Highway 29 over the Kaimai Ranges also needs exceptional care during wet conditions.

Police will be out in force over the Anniversary Weekend Holiday period to ensure that:

Traffic flows run smoothly and delays are kept to a minimum;

Slower drivers are encouraged to pull over to let faster traffic pass;

Those who engage in high-risk driver behaviour that puts other road users at risk, including speeding, are apprehended.

Drivers exceeding any posted speed limit by more than 40km/h will have their drivers licence suspended immediately for a period of 28 days and police will also be enforcing graduated driver licence conditions with those drivers found breaching conditions being forbidden from driving until they can comply with all conditions of their drivers licence.

All drivers can expect to be breath tested anytime anywhere.

Please help make Western Bay of Plenty roads safe this Anniversary Weekend and "Drive to Survive".