WHAT’S AROUND THE CORNER? Waka Kotahi, Police and road safety partners want drivers to make safe driving decisions on Northland’s roads over summer.
W
e’re all human and we can all make mistakes, but every one of us also has the power to make the right decisions which will keep the roads safer for everyone. Be prepared for what might be just around the corner. And no matter how good a driver you are, you never know what’s hiding on the other side of a tight bend. And Northland has a lot of curves! Always slow down to observe the recommended speeds on turns and bends.
The recommended speeds are displayed in diamond-shaped yellow sign with an arrow signalling the shape of the turn. If a huge truck or campervan is coming out of that very corner it will require skills to pass safely. Make sure to slow down and check if it is safe to pass. Statistics show that over the last six years in Northland, 50 percent of all fatal and serious injury crashes have occurred on a bend. Make sure happy memories are around the corner for you and your family not a tragedy. We want drivers to be focused, watch following distances and keep speeds
down, so that everybody can arrive alive. A moments distraction can cause a lifetime of change. The Northland Region’s road toll to date this year is 27. The common factors in most of this year’s fatal crashes have been driving over the speed limit, being impaired and not wearing seatbelts. In 2020, Northland had 6% of the nation’s fatal crashes, despite having just 3.8% of New Zealand’s population. How good would it be to have no one die on Northland roads this summer? How you behave on the road affects everyone around you. It’s up to us all to be prepared for what could be around the corner.
Organise a sober driver before you head out on the road to celebrate this summer. You never know what is around the corner.
Our vision...
is an Aotearoa where no one is killed or seriously injured on our roads
Top tips for safe driving
DRIVE SAFELY, ARRIVE ALIVE. Slow down and drive to the conditions, always wear your seat belt, drive without distraction, and drive sober. Stay within the speed limit and keep a safe following distance. Less speed means less harm. A small change in speed makes a big difference to injury severity in a crash. Speeding and bad decision-making on the road can have devastating consequences. There will be a lot of traffic on the road so be patient. How you behave on the road affects everyone around you. Road safety starts before you get behind the wheel. Stay alert by making sure you are well rested, have eaten and are hydrated, take regular breaks If you are going to drink, don’t drive. Organise a sober driver to pick you up, or use public transport or taxi.
