Three dead on roads in 24-hour period
While 2018 proved to be one of the worst years for deaths on New Zealand roads, there are fears 2019’s toll could be even higher.
Last year was the deadliest on New Zealand roads in almost 10 years, with 382 lives lost.
Manawatu¯ /Whanganui roads have seen an increase in fatalities in the past year.
From January 16, 2018, until January 16, 2019, 45 people died on Manawatu¯ and Whanganui roads, compared with 31 from the same period of the previous year.
In 2019 to date three people have died on the region’s roads, all occurring within 24 hours.
One person died in a crash near Taihape on Tuesday and two died in a crash near Woodville on Wednesday.
Central District road policing manager Inspector David White said when people talked about the number of deaths on the road he still thought about the people who had lost somebody.
‘‘The grief for each family is still the same.’’
White said nearly all road deaths were avoidable and could be attributed to excessive speed, not wearing a seatbelt, drunk, drugged, or fatigued driving, or being distracted.
He said police were committed to reducing death and injury on our roads but they could not do it alone.
‘‘We need everyone’s help to keep our roads safe.
‘‘Decisions you make as a driver impact not only you and those in your vehicle, but everyone else on the road as well.’’
Their message remained the same for any driver.
‘‘Don’t drive distracted, stay within your own lane, buckle up, watch your speed, and never drive under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or fatigue.
‘‘Police would love to see everybody driving sensibly and to the conditions every time they get into their vehicle.’’
In the group of 45 people who died on Manawatu¯ /Whanganui roads, 15 were older than 60 and seven were aged between 0-15.
This included Keanu Josephsranginui, 13, who was sitting in the front passenger seat of a stolen car in Whanganui and was killed when the car crashed into a tree in June.
Meadow James, 12, and 15-year-old Ihaia Mcphee Maxwell were also included in that count, dying after the stolen blue Subaru they were fleeing police in hit a power pole near Longburn in May. Ihaia was at the wheel.
Ministry of Transport manager mobility and safety Brent Johnston said of those seven aged 0-15 when they died, six were passengers.
‘‘This is a tragedy and reinforces how vulnerable young people can be.
‘‘Children and young people are precious cargo whose safety is in our hands, each and every time we get behind the wheel.
‘‘It’s important as drivers we all make good choices, so that everyone gets home safely.’’
He said in the past five years, 26 per cent of people killed on Manawatu¯ / Whanganui roads were older than 60.
‘‘We do know that some senior drivers can be affected by changes in vision, reaction times and flexibility, which can make driving more difficult.’’
He said the Ministry of Transport was leading the development of a new road safety strategy, due to be released for public consultation in April, which would outline the steps New Zealand would take to significantly reduce deaths and serious injuries on the roads over the coming decade.
‘‘We know we need to do something differently to reduce the unacceptable high level of road trauma both in Manawatu¯ -Wanganui, and across the whole country.’’