Friday, 27 November 2015 15:43

New campaign emphasises rural drunk drivers

Written by Rural News Group

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

Canterbury Police will be carrying out more random patrols on rural roads over the coming summer.

Many people believe drunk drivers have a lower chance of being stopped by police when they drive on rural back roads.

Because of this, Canterbury Road Safety Coordinators are running a joint campaign aimed at reducing crashes from rural motorists drinking then driving.

Selwyn District Council and three other rural Canterbury Councils are participating in the Christmas and New Year campaign, which encourages rural drivers to plan a safe ride home.

Canterbury Police will be carrying out more random patrols on rural roads over the coming summer. The booze bus will also be deployed in rural areas as well as urban areas.

In Selwyn District between 2010 and 2014, 145 crashes involving alcohol were recorded by Police. In this period there were 13 deaths and 35 people seriously injured in the district as a result of alcohol related crashes.

"This years' campaign encourages drivers to plan how they can get home safely before they go out," says Selwyn road safety coordinator Ngaire Tinning.

"Good options to think about are to have a sober driver, use the courtesy van, share designated driver duties, or invite friends to sleep over so they don't need to be on the road if they have been drinking."

More like this

Government aims to deliver city-level services to rural communities

The Government wants to make sure that rural communities get a level of service that people who live in cities often complacently expect.

RSE workers get immunised

Over 1,000 Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers in the Hawke’s Bay have now been immunised against measles.

Stay safe over summer - St John

Hato Hone St John is urging Kiwis to have a safe summer this year.

HRT patches decision needs reconsideration - RWNZ

Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) says Pharmac needs to reconsider its decision to fund only one brand of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) patches used by women going through perimenopause and menopause.

'Time to go beyond just talking about mental health'

Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says while people are opening about mental health, there’s still disproportionately high rates of suicide and depression in rural communities.

Featured

Fieldays team set to deliver an exciting four-day event

Newly appointed National Fieldays chief executive Richard Lindroos says his team is ready, excited and looking forward to delivering the four-day event next month.

Rabobank Ag Pathways Programme trains NZ farmers in business skills

More than 70 farmers from across the North and South Islands recently spent a dayand- a-half learning new business management and planning skills at Rabobank Ag Pathways Programmes held in Invercargill, Ashburton and Hawera.

Digital 'SOS' billboards take farmers' message to the Beehive

Government ministers cannot miss the ‘SOS’ – save our sheep call - from New Zealand farmers.

Tax expert hails 20% deduction as golden opportunity for agribusiness investment

A tax advisory specialist is hailing a 20% tax deduction to spur business asset purchases as a golden opportunity for agribusiness.

Sheep and beef farmers approve FMD readiness agreement with government

Sheep and beef farmers have voted to approve Beef + Lamb New Zealand signing an operational agreement between the agricultural sector and the Government on foot and mouth disease readiness and response.

NZKGI CEO Responds to Waikato Professor’s Kiwifruit Sector Report

The head of the New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers organisation NZKGI says the points raised in a report about the sector by Waikato University professor Frank Scrimgeour were not a surprise.