‘Naive’ to claim road plan on track: AA

A DUNEDIN road safety advocate says claims of progress on reducing road fatalities are naive and a plan to eliminate serious injuries could be heading in the wrong direction.

A joint press release by the Ministry of Transport, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and police heralded the release of the monitoring report for the year 2021 for the Road to Zero strategy, and claimed it was on track to meet its target of a 40% reduction in deaths and serious injuries by 2030.

Ministry Road to Zero director Bryan Sherritt said the 11% reduction in serious injuries and fatalities between 2018 and 2020 showed the programme’s focus on a systematic approach to road safety was leading to results.

The report showed a 25% decrease in serious injuries and deaths for Otago over that period.

However, the report also shows that, across New Zealand, there was a a 6% increase in deaths and serious injuries between 2020 and 2021.

Automobile Association Otago district council chairman Malcolm Budd said the recent rise in serious crashes showed Road to Zero was heading in the wrong direction.

While the AA was highly supportive of the plan and its aims, Mr Budd believed it was far too early to say it was on track: ‘‘I think it's pretty naive to come out with a statement like that.’’

While the overall reduction in deaths was a good trend, he felt the plan was heading in the wrong direction.

A lot more issues needed to be addressed other than reducing speed limits and there needed to be greater focus on driver training, enforcement and road maintenance, Mr Budd said.

NZTA land transport director

Kane Patena said the agency would prioritise infrastructure to improve safety, particularly barriers and cameras.

The report showed what areas needed to be focused on, Mr Patena said.

Police Assistant Commissioner Bruce O'Brien said while overall progress had been positive, there were further opportunities to improve road safety.

He pointed to an increase since 2018 in harmful crashes where restraints were not used and unsafe speed was a factor.

Police were committed to increasing efforts to reduce harm and were continuing to take appropriate prevention and enforcement action.

It would take everyone to reach the ultimate goal of no serious deaths or injuries on New Zealand’s roads, Asst Comm O’Brien said.