The AA quotes NZ as having the highest rate of road deaths per 100,000 population in 2011. 6.4%. Australia being the closest with 5.7% and Britain with only 3.1%.
There has been a lot of talk regarding road safety but I have yet to see anyone taking action with regard to the basic cause of traffic misbehaviour.
We must start with a more stringent control on youthful drivers, who like anyone else have to stretch their muscles to see just how far they can push the envelope. It is at this stage that enforcement must show the limits.
Unfortunately one only has to drive down any road to see the younger generation in action, speeding, ignoring Give Way and Stop signs and acting like idiots trying to prove that they are able to drive better than anyone else. This behaviour having been largely ignored because of the lack of local enforcement then spreads onto the main highway.
I have been trying for the past five years to get some traffic enforcement in Papamoa, Mt Maunganui areas. I have made contact with both local and Government authorities and apart from meaningless replies and a visit from a patrol car for a matter of two hours in 2008 little seems to have been done to reduce offending in this area.
The then Minister of Police, Mr Joyce, suggested that if speeding continued I should contact my local Police Station. The reply from the lady on the other end of the telephone at the station told me that they only had one patrol vehicle and they can't be everywhere, in other words 'Suck it up”. I still see vehicles ignoring the Stop sign in Central Parade and Dee Street.
If there was more action with the basic areas I am sure it would benefit elsewhere.
Give it a try and save more lives.

K Roke, Papamoa.