Counties Manukau Police are focusing on seatbelt safety and drivers¡¯ mobile phone use behind the wheel as part of the nationwide Operation Habit, which launched on Monday and runs until Sunday 7 August 2016.
The message is simple - seatbelts save lives.
There¡¯s been a sudden increase in deaths associated with restraints not being worn ¨C from an average of 57 per year from 2012-2014, to 92 in 2015. Nationally, between January and March 2016, 41% of vehicle occupants killed in road crashes were unrestrained at the time of the crash. This translates to 28 people whose deaths may have otherwise been prevented.
Despite showing that wearing a seatbelt reduces your chance of death or serious injury in a crash by at least 40%, far too many local drivers are putting themselves and their families at risk by not using them.
¡°Road safety is everyone¡¯s responsibility and drivers need to take just as much care and attention on rural roads as they do in urban areas,¡± said Road Policing Senior Sergeant Jonathon Chappell. ¡°Wearing a seatbelt is part of that.? It takes just a few seconds to buckle up and it could save your life. It¡¯s a no-brainer.¡±?
Driver distractions can come in many forms and are another of the key targets during Operation Habit ¨C particularly those posed by talking, texting and checking emails on a mobile phone while driving.
¡°When you get behind the wheel, put your phone somewhere where the sound of a call or text isn¡¯t going to distract you, or leave it with a passenger,¡± said Mr Chappell. ¡°Answering that call or text could put you, your passengers and other road users at risk. No phone call or text is that important.
¡°Road safety is everyone¡¯s responsibility. Making these small changes to your driving habits really can help save people¡¯s lives on our roads.¡±
ENDS
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Ridealongs are available. Please contact Jo Haywood in the Police Media Centre on (04) 238 5111 to arrange.