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Police are urging drivers to put their phones away and watch their speed when they return home from their vacation.
Eleven people have already lost their lives on the roads of New Zealand in this holiday period, more than double the four lives lost last summer vacation.
The latest death involved a collision between a truck and a car on State Highway 29 in the Lower Kaimai area Monday morning. The road reopened around 10 in the morning.
Andy Jackson / Stuff
Police are urging motorists to drive under conditions on the last day of official summer vacation. (File photo)
On New Year’s Day, a two-car accident in Northland’s Hikurangi killed 6-year-old Myka Tuala from Wellington.
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With Monday being the last day of the official vacation period, Assistant Police Commissioner Scott Fraser said there will be heavy traffic on highways across the country.
Brodie Jaeger / Supplied
Floods near Opotiki on Sunday nearly submerged small cars; now the police are warning motorists to drive according to conditions.
Many areas have been hit by bad weather in recent days, making it even more important for all drivers to stay focused and make the right decisions, he said.
“We know that people will be eager to get home and the weather conditions will make driving challenging in many parts of New Zealand,” he said.
“But we do not want to see more families affected by the tragedy this holiday period, and we need all road users to do their part to get everyone home safely.”
Fraser said drivers should slow down, drive according to conditions, watch following distances, put away their phones and take a break if they feel tired.
“By doing these simple things, we take care of our families, each other and everyone on the roads.”
The official holiday period began at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve and runs until 6 a.m. on January 5.
Deaths on holiday roads
On Christmas Day, two people were killed in rural southern Auckland when the car they were traveling in crashed into a power pole.
On Boxing Day, two more people were killed when their car hit a bridge in West Auckland.
A man and a woman were killed after a milk tanker and a motorcycle collided in Southland on December 28.
One person was killed when two cars crashed together in Pahīatua, north of Masterton, on December 29.
Another person died after an accident at Dairy Flats, Auckland, on December 29.
The Christmas-New Year road toll increased to nine following a car accident on Russley Rd, Christchurch on December 30.
The death toll rose to 10 on New Year’s Day following the death of a 6-year-old boy from Wellington. He was killed after a two-car accident on State Highway 1 in Hikurangi, north of Whangārei in Northland.
The latest death involved a collision between a truck and a car on State Highway 29 in the Lower Kaimai area on Monday.
