The battle against driver fatigue over a busy long weekend was made refreshingly positive by Southern Road Police.
Oamaru and Lawrence were picked as key locations for fatigue stops attached to breath-testing checkpoints over Waitangi weekend - and what better way to revive drivers on a summer¡¯s evening than with a barbecue?
Acting Sergeant Heidi Cunningham, of Dunedin¡¯s Road Policing Group One, coordinated the stop in Lawrence with sole-charge Constable Paul Alden, drawing on the positive partnership with local Fire Emergency NZ staff to serve up free tea, coffee, and a sausage sizzle for motorists and their passengers.
¡°This is just a positive way to interact with drivers, and spread our safety message,¡± says Heidi. ¡°With the increased traffic over the long weekend, it¡¯s an important part of our integrated strategy to make our roads safer¡ and everyone loves a barbecue!¡±
The proof of that was evident in the number of motorists gratefully accepting kai and treats for kids. There were more than a few grateful puppy passengers taking advantage of the free sausages too.
The fatigue stops set motorists off feeling full, happy, and - most importantly - alert for the busy long weekend traffic.
Further hard work on Southern roads made for a safe long weekend, with staff from Gore, Mataura, and Wyndham joining forces for checkpoints, stopping a large number of holiday travellers. Patrols were also ramped up in the area, all targeted at reducing the risk of harm on Southern roads with the huge increase in traffic.