Western Bay Police planning Labour Weekend Lifesaverr

Western Bay of Plenty Police will be out in force on the roads and highways over Labour weekend hoping for a weekend that is fatality free.

Acting Senior Sergeant Mark Holmes of the Western Bay of Plenty Road Policing Unit said that the huge reduction in road crashes nationally over Queen's birthday weekend has prompted Police National Road Policing Manager, Superintendent Paula Rose to reintroduce the reduced speed tolerance of four kilometres per hour over any speed limit for the official holiday period (4 pm Friday 22 October through to 6 am Tuesday 26 October).

The Queen’s Birthday road toll was the lowest in more than 50 years with only one death. There was also a reduction in the number of crashes overall from 341 last year to 292 this year.

"We want every journey to be a safe journey. We know that if we can keep speeds down, we can keep crashes down and that is what we are hoping for this weekend, I am not prepared to accept that people dying on the roads is an inevitable outcome of having a long holiday weekend - we can change this, we don't have to tolerate holiday weekend highways becoming killing fields," said Superintendent Paula Rose.

Last year nationally at Labour Weekend there were eight deaths, 28 serious injuries and 104 minor injuries. The most common crash causes were losing control (34%), alcohol (25%), inattention (20%), and travelling too fast for conditions (14%).

Locally on Western Bay Roads during the Labour Weekend Holiday period in 2009 there were 18 reported crashes of which three resulted in minor injury.

"Police will be highly visible on the roads and ensuring that people and families arrive at their destinations safely," says Acting Senior Sergeant Mark Holmes.

Drivers who chose to Drink and Drive, Speed, Fail to keep left, Wear restraints or drive in a manner that puts themselves and other  motorists at risk and that includes slow drivers who hold traffic up can expect to be targeted by Police, said Mr Holmes.

"We will also be targeting noisy and uncertified modified vehicles and drivers of vehicles who do not comply with current legislation can expect to have their vehicles ordered off the road.

"Motorists can also be expected to be breath tested anywhere at any time."

Mr Holmes also asks all motorists to contact Police on *555 and report incidents of Unsafe or Dangerous Driving.