Labor Day weekend toll: death toll on New Zealand roads surpasses 2019

Two people have died on New Zealand’s roads since Labor weekend began, topping last year’s death toll for the entire holiday period.

One person died after an accident near Gisborne overnight on Whatatutu Rd, Te Karaka, around 2 am.

And a motorcyclist died after a serious accident around 5 p.m. on Main Rd North (State Highway 2), Timberlea, Upper Hutt, yesterday.

One person, a motorcyclist, died during the Labor Day weekend holiday period last year, according to data from the Transportation Ministry.

The weekend period started at 4pm yesterday and runs until 6am Tuesday.

Police say investigations are underway in relation to the Te Karaka and Timberlea accidents.

New Zealand Police Acting Superintendent Gini Welch says buckling up and driving at a safe speed are two “must-haves” for safe travel on vacation.

“This is our first long weekend since June, and with travel restricted to our own backyard, there will be more traffic on our roads. More traffic means more risk, just because of the volume.

“You are on vacation; there is no need to rush.”

This year’s highway toll

The highway toll for the entire year between January 1 and October 22 is 251, lower than last year when there were 271 deaths in the same period.

A total of 121 drivers have died more than any other type of road user this year.

The number of men who have died far exceeds the number of women killed on our roads: 183 compared to 68.

The 60+ age group has had the highest number of deaths overall at 71.

During the 2018 work weekend, there were four fatal crashes and 130 reported injury crashes, resulting in five fatalities, 33 serious injuries and 155 minor injuries.

The five deaths were two drivers, two passengers, and a motorcyclist.

“More than a half [53 per cent] of the crashes occurred on urban roads, “says the ministry’s website on the 2018 crashes.

“Forty percent of the crashes were single-vehicle crashes in which a driver lost control or went off the road, 28 percent were intersection crashes, 10 percent were rear-end crashes or crashes with obstructions , and 5 percent were head-on crashes over collisions. “

“The most commonly cited contributing factors for crashes during Labor weekend were poor road position (28 percent), losing control (22 percent), traveling too fast for conditions (21 percent), not giving in or stopping (20 percent) and alcohol and drugs (14 percent). “

There is no record of injuries on Labor weekend 2019.