Down with speed in WBOP - 5km/hr and above will get tickets

Western Bay of Plenty Police have launched their 2011 Winter Campaign with the vow to make SH29, the Kaimai Ranges, a safe road to drive this Winter.

Between April and August every year, SH29 (Kaimai Ranges) becomes one of the most treacherous roads in the Western Bay of Plenty and Police are committed to continue the success of last winter's campaign by reducing crashes even further.

The Officer in Charge of WBOP Road Policing, Acting Senior Sergeant Mike Owen, says Police will be adopting a hard line with those who insist on exceeding the speed limit.

"In particular, we are clamping down on speed. Anyone travelling at 5km/h or above the posted speed limit should expect to receive Police attention and run the real likelihood of being issued a ticket".

Last winter, crashes on the Kaimais reduced by 63% on the previous year. On top of this there were no fatalities on SH29 throughout the winter months.

"These great results were achieved as a result of the public and other agencies working together to make the road safer. We want to ensure crashes continue to reduce on the Kaimais, ultimately making it safer for all road users, so we are going to do everything we can to keep our end of the bargain", stated Acting Senior Sergeant Owen.

Western Bay Police have also identified other high risk Highways where officers will have the discretion to issue tickets to motorists exceeding the speed limit by 5 km/h or more over the winter period.

"SPEED, ALCOHOL AND NOT DRIVING TO THE CONDITIONS are the most common factors that caused these crashes, so expect Police presence on the Kaimai Ranges this winter to increase dramatically."

Acting Senior Sergeant Owen says Police are also urging motorists to help themselves and assist in making The Kaimais safer this winter by being mindful of their speed, wearing their seatbelts, ensuring everyone else is wearing a seatbelt and always driving to the conditions.

He says he encourages people to phone *555 if they witness bad driving because these incidents often involve speeding, drunk, fatigued and dangerous drivers.

"Already, on the first day of the Winter Campaign on April 1, a motorist was spotted travelling down the Kaimais with smoke pouring from his motor. He failed his breath test and was almost two times over the legal drink-driving limit.

"This is just one example of a person who puts you, your family, your neighbours and your work mates at risk - and these are exactly the sort of people we want off the road."

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