Tragic toll puts road safety in Govt spotlight
THE daughter of a man killed in a Northland crash says she’s devastated to have lost ‘‘the best father a girl could have ever wished for’’.
Kevin Cocker and his wife Fiona Cocker died in a multivehicle crash at a known danger spot on State Highway One south of Whangarei on Wednesday.
A deadly 12-hour period this weekend in which five people were killed on the roads, and another three in train collisions, prompted associate transport minister Julie Anne Genter to last night say the new coalition Government would prioritise safety over ‘‘traffic flows’’.
‘‘The last government actually said that traffic flow was more important than safety,’’ she said.
‘‘I think most New Zealanders would say their priority is the safety of them and their loved ones.’’
Kevin’s daughter Ashley confirmed the deaths of the Tomarata couple on social media.
‘‘Dad, I don’t even know where to begin,’’ she said. ‘‘I am lost for words and in total disbelief. You have been the best father a girl could have ever wished for.’’
Kevin and Fiona Crocker are among 323 people who have died in crashes so far this year, including five on Friday.
That’s just five deaths short of the total road toll for last year.
Associate transport minister Julie Anne Genter said the number was unacceptable, and vowed the new government would take action.
‘‘Hundreds of people should not be dying on New Zealand roads in a year,’’ she said. ‘‘No death is acceptable.’’
Genter said she wanted to improve safety ‘‘across the entire transport system’’ and would be asking officials to report back with an action plan and options for policy.
She added safety needed to come first.
‘‘You cannot put a price on the life of a family member or friend.
We’ve had nine years of underinvestment in safety, so it could take some time, but I’m going to make this a major priority.’’
Yesterday, police pleaded with motorists to take more care while driving.
Road policing national manager Superintendent Steve Greally said the number of deaths was disappointing and avoidable.
‘‘Being distracted is a major cause of death on our roads, as is going too fast for the conditions, or making risky decisions,’’ he said.
Greally said the irresponsible actions of some drivers were ‘‘actually quite evil in nature’’.