Police warn extra caution – School holidays and extra overseas drivers
Police are warning motorists to take extra care with a number of drivers clocked speeding at over 140km/hr in the last few weeks, school holidays and extra international drivers on local roads due to Chinese Golden Week.
“Plan your trips, allow yourself time for delays and ensure you’re well rested and not fatigued as that’s when people make mistakes,” Otago Lakes Road Policing Sergeant Bruce Martin says.
“We’re in two really busy periods with an increase in international drivers on our roads,” he says. “The last thing we want to see is a momentary mistake that can end up with a long-lasting result and serious injuries for someone.”
Meanwhile, he says it was “very fortunate” that there were no more serious injuries after a two-car crash on State Highway 6 about 11km south of Kingston at 11.10am on Monday. One driver was an overseas person living in New Zealand and the other a New Zealander, who both knew our roads, Martin says. One was heading towards the Te Anau Fiordland area. “This accident is still under investigation but as far as we’re aware speed was not involved.”
Police initially classed the accident as “a serious crash” that had blocked the Kingston Garston highway, later notifying that one lane of the highway was open to traffic.
Three people were taken to hospital with minor injuries, two to Lakes District and one was understood to be taken to Southland Hospital. All were still recovering, Martin says.
