“Speeding, impatience and inattention by drivers on roads are killers,” says the head of the Western Bay of Plenty road policing team.

Senior Sergeant Wayne Hunter said police throughout Tauranga and the Western Bay district will be out in force during the Christmas–New Year period, with officers and specialist enforcement teams stepping up visibility and patrols.

Hunter said speeding on State Highway 29 – one of the region’s most dangerous stretches – would receive particular focus.

“We’ll be increasing our enforcement, including speeding on our highways, especially on State Highway 29.

“We’ll be particularly targeting drivers going 5-10km/h over the speed limit because we know that if people aren’t stopped, their speed is likely to creep up and up, and that could become routine.”

He made “no apologies” for the approach.

“People will be issued tickets because speeding is a significant contributing factor in serious-injury and fatal crashes. Hopefully, this will drive home to people that any speeding is dangerous and won’t be tolerated.”

Senior Sergeant Wayne Hunter, the head of the Western Bay of Plenty road policing team. Photo / NZME

Risks rise sharply in the rain

“It amazes me, the huge speeds some people are prepared to go, particularly on SH29 when it’s raining.”

Hunter said he braced for serious crashes as soon as the weather turned.

SH29 was also “particularly bad” for inattention and risky behaviour.

“It’s a road where impatient people take big risks just to get from point A to point B – overtaking in the wrong places, turning into the path of other vehicles and using mobile phones.”

More than 900 drivers in the Western Bay have been ticketed for phone use in the first nine months of the year – averaging 100 offenders every month.

Motorists illegally using mobile phones, speeding and not wearing seatbelts are on the radar of Western Bay of Plenty road policing staff. Photo / NZME

“We need people to slow down, watch their following distances, be 100% aware of what is happening around them and in front of them, not using their phones or engaged in other distractions,” he said.

“Even a momentary lapse of concentration can be deadly.”

Not wearing seatbelts

Hunter said wearing a seatbelt should be an “automatic” when people get into a vehicle.

“Wearing a seatbelt will save your life in the event of a crash, especially if your car rolls – and if you’re not restrained, you’re likely to be ejected through the front windscreen.

“We see people every day not wearing a seat belt and using their phones. That’s why we are continuing to crack down on these behaviours, and also drink and drug-impaired driving. ”

Hunter said the number of road deaths in the Western Bay of Plenty police district remained at five – the latest fatality was on June 26 – but, the number could have been far higher.

He said many people blamed the road when they crashed, but in most cases the driver was responsible for causing the crash.

People should never drive fatigued because they risked falling asleep at the wheel, he said.

“That’s exactly what happened to the male driver of a car that drove into the back of another car on the Lower Kaimai Range at 3am on December 23.

“Fortunately, he wasn’t seriously hurt, but it could easily have been a different story. ”

Senior Sergeant Wayne Hunter says he makes no apology for cracking down on speeding and other risky behaviours. Photo / NZME

Though Hunter wouldn’t reveal the number of police out in force across the district over the Christmas holiday period, he said most of the road policing staff and the alcohol and drug-impairment enforcement team would be on duty.

“And I have also put [speed] radars in all the ordinary patrol cars, so those officers can also jump to help with this type of enforcement when they become free from other frontline duties.

“We need people to abide by the road rules strictly. Don’t speed, put down your phone, buckle up and don’t drive if you’ve been drinking or taking drugs.”

NZTA safety reminder

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi reminded travellers to drive to the conditions, allow extra time and take regular breaks.

The busiest routes in the Bay of Plenty were expected to include:

Drivers could check expected congestion periods using NZTA’s Bay of Plenty or Waikato summer holiday journey planners.

A Christmas shutdown on roadworks runs until midnight on January 4, though some temporary traffic management may remain in place to protect work sites.

“It’s the chance for hard‑working crews to have some well-earned downtime,” a spokesperson said.

Sandra Conchie is a senior journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post who has been a journalist for 25 years. She covers mainly police, court and other justice stories, plus general news. She has been a Canon Media Awards regional/community reporter of the year.