Govt considering zero road death target

WELLINGTON: The Government is considering setting a target of zero road deaths as part of its new road safety strategy.

Announcing the Government’s new road safety strategy at the Local Government Road Safety Summit in Wellington yesterday, Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter said: ‘‘I accept that a target of zero death would be audacious, but ambitious targets are needed to focus the resources of both central and local government to save lives on our roads.

‘‘No other industry accepts hundreds of people dying each year as normal.’’

Similar ambitious targets had been successful in Canada, Sweden and Norway, Ms Genter said.

The Government expects to have a new plan in place by September 2019, and to implement it the following year.

It would consider changes such as increasing safety requirements for vehicles being brought into the country, mandatory alcohol interlock devices for repeat drinkdrivers and reducing speeds around schools.

It will also review the drivers licence system, and look at new types of speed cameras.

National MP Alastair Scott yesterday called on Ms Genter to also back his member’s bill to introduce roadside drug testing.

‘‘Alcohol or drugs are involved in about one in three fatal crashes on our roads as well as numerous serious injury crashes,’’ he said.

‘‘With advances in technologies making roadside drug testing much more practical, now is the right time to introduce it.’’ — NZN