Safety urged on Southern roads this holiday weekend

Southern Police will be out and about across the District over Labour Weekend aiming to make the roads as safe as possible for all road users.

"Labour Weekend is the first holiday after the winter where people get away to enjoy family and friends", said Inspector Andrew Burns.

"The boats and caravans are pulled out and taken to the lakes areas, trailers are loaded up with gear for having a clean up at the holiday home. This can create added hazards on the roads where slower towing vehicles are on the road with larger numbers of other holiday road users travelling to holiday events across the Southern District."

Drivers of towing vehicles need to keep an eye on what is happening behind them to ensure they are not creating a situation where vehicles are backed up behind them. These drivers need to take every opportunity to pull over and let the following traffic safely pass. This will reduce frustration and allow the traffic to flow.

"As part of the plan to reduce trauma on our roads over Labour Weekend Police will be enforcing the speed limits with a 4 kilometre an hour discretion over the holiday period. Coupled with this there will be a focus on drivers who have been drinking alcohol, those failing to keep left and those who are driving too fast for the conditions. The aim is to have no fatal or injury crashes over this weekend and to build on the success of Queens Birthday Weekend," said Inspector Andrew Burns.