BE ALERT with Robyn Blackburn MARLBOROUGH ROAD SAFETY A lapse of judgement driving at speeds of higher than 70km/h is one of the biggest killers on our roads. The Government's Road to Zero strategy sets out a vision for no deaths or serious injuries on New Zealand roads by 2030. It includes guiding principles for everyone involved in our roading network, so designers, engineers, policy makers and enforcement agencies can work together to reduce the number of deaths on our roads. Mariborough Road Satety Coordinator Robyn Blackbum says road users have a part to play in Road to Zero too, and is calling for all drivers to remain ALERT when driving, particularty on the open road. Why are crashes on the open road a priority? 7 OUT OF 10 SERIOUS As we all know, the faster we drive, the more likely we are to be killed or seriously injured if we do make a mistake and crash. INJURY CRASHES ARE DUE TO A LAPSE OR ERROR Studies have shown the severity of injuries resulting from a crash is directly related to the impact speed of the vehicle - whether or not you were travelling over the speed limit when you crashed Seven out of 10 serious injury crashes are due to a lapse in attention or error of judgement. While we accept it is inevitable that drivers wil make mistakes, the Road to Zero strategy does not accept that death or serious injury as a result of that mistake has to be STAY ALERT ON OUR OPEN ROADS A (ZRO What sorts of things are being targeted in the Road to Zero strategy? Better road design, the addition of road safety features, adjustment of speed limits, the promotion of safer cars and driver education campaigns to improve our behaviour and attitude on the road. All these things combined have been shown overseas to reduce the impact of orashes on our roads. The trial reduction of speed limits on State Highway 6 between Renwick and Notson is an example of just one of the tools we can use to prevent fatal and serious injury crashes. While we're only a couple of months into the trial, our highway patrol team has reported most drivers have adjusted readily to the now speed limits. Peopie who drive between Blenheim and Nelson will have noticed there's not a substantial increase in the travelling time - a smal price to pay it we can save ives. How can drivers keep themselves, their passengers and other road users safe on the open road? No one ever expects to be in a crash, but as humans we are fallible so we need to stay alert when we are driving. Be Alert to distraction - put your phone on flight mode and out of sight. Be Alert to distraction - if you need to use your mobile or the kids are distracting you, pull over when safe. - Be Alert to fatigue - if you're feeling tired stop and get out of the car or off the bike, have some tresh air, a cotfee or a nap. Be Alert to vehicles building up behind you, pull over somewhere safe and let them pass. ALERT ZONE NEXT 1,000 KM STAY ALERT ON OUR OPEN ROADS Be Alert to trustration it you're stuck behind a slower vehicle and pass only when it is safe. Be Alert to the car you are driving, a high star rating car has better safoty teatures. MARLBOROUCH Be Alert to the road and weather conditions to detemine the speed you should be driving or riding. ZERO GIVEAWAY We have 100 Car Air Fresheners to giveaway to Marlborough Express readers this month. Call into THE MARLBOROUGH EXPRESS Front office to collect BE ALERT with Robyn Blackburn MARLBOROUGH ROAD SAFETY A lapse of judgement driving at speeds of higher than 70km/h is one of the biggest killers on our roads. The Government's Road to Zero strategy sets out a vision for no deaths or serious injuries on New Zealand roads by 2030. It includes guiding principles for everyone involved in our roading network, so designers, engineers, policy makers and enforcement agencies can work together to reduce the number of deaths on our roads. Mariborough Road Satety Coordinator Robyn Blackbum says road users have a part to play in Road to Zero too, and is calling for all drivers to remain ALERT when driving, particularty on the open road. Why are crashes on the open road a priority? 7 OUT OF 10 SERIOUS As we all know, the faster we drive, the more likely we are to be killed or seriously injured if we do make a mistake and crash. INJURY CRASHES ARE DUE TO A LAPSE OR ERROR Studies have shown the severity of injuries resulting from a crash is directly related to the impact speed of the vehicle - whether or not you were travelling over the speed limit when you crashed Seven out of 10 serious injury crashes are due to a lapse in attention or error of judgement. While we accept it is inevitable that drivers wil make mistakes, the Road to Zero strategy does not accept that death or serious injury as a result of that mistake has to be STAY ALERT ON OUR OPEN ROADS A (ZRO What sorts of things are being targeted in the Road to Zero strategy? Better road design, the addition of road safety features, adjustment of speed limits, the promotion of safer cars and driver education campaigns to improve our behaviour and attitude on the road. All these things combined have been shown overseas to reduce the impact of orashes on our roads. The trial reduction of speed limits on State Highway 6 between Renwick and Notson is an example of just one of the tools we can use to prevent fatal and serious injury crashes. While we're only a couple of months into the trial, our highway patrol team has reported most drivers have adjusted readily to the now speed limits. Peopie who drive between Blenheim and Nelson will have noticed there's not a substantial increase in the travelling time - a smal price to pay it we can save ives. How can drivers keep themselves, their passengers and other road users safe on the open road? No one ever expects to be in a crash, but as humans we are fallible so we need to stay alert when we are driving. Be Alert to distraction - put your phone on flight mode and out of sight. Be Alert to distraction - if you need to use your mobile or the kids are distracting you, pull over when safe. - Be Alert to fatigue - if you're feeling tired stop and get out of the car or off the bike, have some tresh air, a cotfee or a nap. Be Alert to vehicles building up behind you, pull over somewhere safe and let them pass. ALERT ZONE NEXT 1,000 KM STAY ALERT ON OUR OPEN ROADS Be Alert to trustration it you're stuck behind a slower vehicle and pass only when it is safe. Be Alert to the car you are driving, a high star rating car has better safoty teatures. MARLBOROUCH Be Alert to the road and weather conditions to detemine the speed you should be driving or riding. ZERO GIVEAWAY We have 100 Car Air Fresheners to giveaway to Marlborough Express readers this month. Call into THE MARLBOROUGH EXPRESS Front office to collect