Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
Fifty-eight roadside billboards in the Waikato and Waipā districts will have road safety messages road users won’t miss.
Transportation Manager Bryan Hudson, Waipā District Council says “the Waipā District Council sees road safety in the district as a priority and billboards are a great way of getting messages in front of road users.”
“We endeavor to support Police in their role to keep our roads safe and the crash rate down,” says Hudson.
“It’s a shared responsibility between Council, Police and road users themselves. We are all working towards the national Road Safety Strategy ‘Road to Zero’ that has set an initial target to reduce deaths and serious injuries on New Zealand’s roads, streets, cycleways and footpaths by 40 percent over the next 10 years.”
“Billboard messaging is just one of many ways the Waikato District Council keeps safety messages in front of drivers,” says Megan Jolly, Waikato District Council Road Safety Co-ordinator.
“Waikato District Council takes road safety seriously and our partnership with Police is a crucial part of our efforts to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads. Our contribution towards the national road safety strategy of Road to Zero is delivered through our focus on education and roading improvements. These billboards capture important messages for road users.”
“Both Waipā and Waikato District Councils are dedicated to road safety and Police are pleased to be their partner,” says Inspector Mike Henwood, Acting Road Policing Manager, Waikato.
“Having 58 large road safety messages placed throughout the Waikato and Waipā districts is an amazing commitment from the councils. They will complement the work our staff do every day policing our roads to deter unsafe behaviour and prevent harm.”
There have been 204 crashes within the Waipā Council and Waikato Council districts in 2021 – 162 minor, 31 serious, and 11 fatal crashes.
“One death is too many for whānau, friends and Police,” says Inspector Henwood.
“There are four behaviours that we focus on to reduce the risk of death or serious injury occuring from a road crash.
“The four behaviours are Restraints – always wear a seatbelt, Impairment – drive sober, Distraction – put the phone down, Speed – drive to the conditions and slow down.
“Waikato and Waipā district road users will see RIDS focused road safety messages on the billboards along with images of our Police officers. Messages are short and can be easily read as drivers pass, encouraging them to drive safe and arrive alive.”
The Waipā District Council has 25 billboards and Waikato District Council has 33 billboards on local roads, dedicated to road safety messages. Billboards will be up before the end of June and will remain up for six months.
ENDS
- Police media contact: media@nzpolice.govt.nz / 04 238 5111
- Waipā District Council media contact: Regan Schoultz, Communications Advisor, 027 282 8580
- Waikato District Council media contact: John Brown, Senior Communications Advisor, 027 889 3084
Issued by Police Media Centre
