Bay of Plenty Police are reminding drivers of heavy motor vehicles to make sure their vehicles are safe, and that they are safe, as the end of the year approaches.

Acting Inspector Lex Soepnel, acting manager for the Police commercial vehicle safety team, says Police will soon be stepping up vehicle inspections and checkpoints.

"We want people to make sure their vehicle is safe and up to standard before they set off. We also want to remind drivers to make sure they are well-rested and take regular breaks.”

Lex says people naturally feel background weariness with the end of the year approaching so it's even more important to make sure they are getting enough sleep between shifts.

"It's important for any driver to be alert and focused when they are driving. Mistakes can happen, so it's important drivers are focused on the task at hand.”

Police are reminding drivers to wear a seatbelt, don't drive impaired by fatigue, drugs, or alcohol; don't drive distracted – such as texting on your phone – and don't drive too fast for the conditions or over the speed limit.

"We focus on these behaviours for a reason. We know they are the four main contributors to death and injury on our roads,” says Lex.

"Everybody deserves to get where they're going safely and the decisions you make as a driver impact on everybody else on the road.

"So let's all commit to being sensible and careful on our roads. Road safety is up to every single one of us."