New Zealand's annual road toll has only dipped below 300 deaths on three occasions over the past 60 years.
Last year, 318 people died on the roads – and th
International tourists can t be made scapegoats for New Zealand s disappointingly high road toll.
International tourists can t be made scapegoats for New Zealand s disappointingly high road toll. 28 January 2021
The latest holiday period produced the highest toll in four years.
But with last month s international airline arrival numbers down by 98 per cent on the previous December, foreigners can t be blamed.
Consultancy firm WSP Technical Director of Transport, Fergus Tate, says Kiwis must start taking responsibility.
He says that s in terms of how motorists operate, but also how road designers manage risk for drivers.
About half of those killed over the holiday period were reportedly not wearing a seatbelt.
Both drivers and road designers are being urged to take more responsibility
Both drivers and road designers are being urged to take more responsibility 28 January 2021
It comes after the holiday road toll shot up to its highest rate in four years.
Consultancy firm WSP reports about 40 per cent of open road deaths happen when motorists lose control on a bend.
Technical Director of Transport Fergus Tate says many times that s because of inappropriate speed.
He says nobody goes into a curve at the wrong speed knowing it will kill them - but we need to minimise those mistakes.
Tate is calling for better education, and funding to fix dangerous roads.