Work to do on road safety
Last week saw the release of a Ministry of Transport report showing a record low road toll for the year so far.
At the end of June the national road toll was 139, down from 199 at the same time last year. The toll for the year to the end of June was 315, which is the lowest-ever recorded for a 12 month period.
While it’s always positive to see the road toll falling, there is plenty more work to be done.
It only takes a couple of major accidents to push those numbers back up, and as you’ll know we have seen far too many tragedies on the roads around Kapiti and Horowhenua.
Over the last six years there have been at least 59 serious or fatal crashes on the stretch of road between Paraparaumu and Levin.
Other findings of the report show that young drivers continue to be over represented in the road roll, and that motorcycle deaths are continuing to increase.
The government has brought in some big changes over the last three years which seem to be making an impact. The driving age has been raised to 16, there is a zero alcohol limit for young drivers and recidivist drink drivers, and new laws cracking down on boy racers and drugged driving.
In May this year I was at the release of the Safer Journeys Action Plan 2011-12, which sets out the Government’s plan for tackling the road toll over the next couple of years.
We’ll be looking at maximum time limits for learner and restricted licenses, strengthening motorcycle license testing and ongoing safety improvements on high risk roads.
Developing the Road of National Significance between Wellington Airport and Levin will also make a big improvement to safety on our roads.
On that note, it’s timely the Prime Minister John Key has invited the US Marines to visit New Zealand, 70 years after they were based around Queen Elizabeth Park and Whareroa farm on the Kapiti Coast.
Back then they offered to build Transmission Gully but the offer wasn’t taken up. When they return we should finally be able to show them positive progress on this important route.