Tuesday, January 9, 2018
A NEW road safety advertising campaign is challenging speeding drivers to slow down and stop defending their perceived “right” to speed.
The joint NZ Transport Agency/Police campaign addresses the significant proportion of the driving population who still like to travel at speeds which are too fast for the conditions, on the open road and around town, posing a risk to themselves and to others who share the roads.
“Every week, 11 people are seriously injured or killed in a speed-related crash on New Zealand roads, but a substantial portion of our society does not see the connection between speed and crashes,” said NZTA director of safety and environment Harry Wilson.
“That needs to change, because the facts and the physics are indisputable.
“Speed is a crucial factor in determining the severity of the crash and the severity of the injuries to the people involved.
“The simple and inescapable truth is that less speed means less harm in a crash.” Assistant Commissioner for Road Policing Sandra Venables said the consequences of people driving too fast for the conditions could be devastating.
“Police officers see the human cost of speed nearly every day on our roads.”
Crashes occurred due to a wide range of mistakes, whether involuntary or deliberate, but the outcome was vastly different at different speeds, she said.
“Even when speed doesn’t cause the crash, it is the single biggest determinant in whether anyone is killed, injured, or walks away unharmed.”
A small change in speed made a big difference to injury severity, she said.
“Our plea to all drivers this year is to be courteous and slow down, to make sure you get to your destination safely.”