Safe drivers up for prizes

Local drivers taking care on the road are in for a chance to win prizes in the Ruru Road Safety Driving Awards.

Ruru the morepork is the native owl character currently featured on Rotorua billboards promoting safer driving speeds in the community.

Rotorua District Council road safety coordinator Jodie Lawson says this month’s road safety campaign is pushing for a community driven behaviour change towards speeding – and offering prizes as an incentive.

“Rotorua Police will be on the lookout for drivers getting it right and travelling at safe speeds, and will record vehicle registration numbers of drivers seen to be exercising particular care.”

All registrations will feature on the Rotorua Classic Hits website, with Breakfast Team Luke and Chloe drawing a Ruru Road Safety Driving Awards’ winner every Friday in June.

“Great prizes have been donated by local businesses for these considerate but unsuspecting drivers,” says Jodie.

In the meantime motorists are being urged to reduce driving speeds as Rotorua has the country’s third highest rate of crashes resulting from excessive speed.