People are being urged not to accept that death and serious injury is the price to pay for using our roads, and are encouraging everyone to put safety first on the roads this Easter.

'Deaths and serious injuries on our roads are not inevitable and everyone has a role to play to reduce serious crashes and save lives,” says Te Manatū Waka Ministry of Transport road to zero director Bryan Sherritt.

'Adding safety infrastructure to our roads, getting Kiwis into safer cars, having more Police on the road, and making sure we have safe speeds on our key roads are all vital parts in creating a transport system that helps people get around safely, rather than landing people in hospital.

'We're committed to improving all parts of the system. But drivers and road users can make simple, easy decisions when they are driving, to do their part to keep themselves and other people on the roads safe every day of the week.”

NZ Police national road policing director Superintendent Steve Greally says police will be out in force over Easter to deter risky driver behaviour that can lead to death or serious injury on our roads.

'We want you to get to your destination safety, which is why Police focus on the four main causes of death and injury on our roads – restraints, impairment, distractions and speed.

'Each and every driver can do four really easy things, each and every time they get behind the wheel – wear a seatbelt, don't drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, remove distractions and slow down.

'Road safety is everyone's responsibility – we can all play a part to ensure that no one is harmed on our roads.”

Waka Kotahi land transport director Kane Patena is urging everyone heading away for the Easter Weekend to plan ahead for a safe journey, especially in areas affected by recent severe weather.

'Our teams have put in a huge effort over the past six weeks to repair flood and slip damage and re-open most highways in Northland, Coromandel, Tairawhiti and Hawke's Bay. We're thrilled that these roads are ready for people to travel to and from holiday destinations, and to visit friends and family.

'There are still many damaged sites with restrictions in place on several routes, and we're urging people to allow plenty of time for their journeys, share the driving to avoid fatigue and be patient when traffic is heavy and there are delays.

'Waka Kotahi has updated our on-line holiday journey planner, including an interactive traffic prediction map that shows when we expect traffic to be heavy based on travel patterns from previous years. It's a great tool to help you plan for a safe trip.”

Learn more about Road to Zero at roadtozero.govt.nz.