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Huge number of speeders caught on Central Otago roads

The Central App

Aimee Wilson

29 October 2024, 4:15 PM

Huge number of speeders caught on Central Otago roadsPHOTO: RNZ

More than 600 infringement notices were issued by Central Otago police at Labour weekend - mostly for people speeding.


Alexandra police Sergeant Darren Kidd said the large number was concerning, ”these are people that are taking selfish unnecessary risks to themselves and other road users as they try to get to their destination quicker’’.



There was a lot of traffic on the road as holiday makers took the opportunity to bring up caravans and boats to the area, “but once here they were all parked up and well behaved'', he said.



An incident involving a bus on the Mount Cook road on Saturday was the second in a matter of months, and has been referred to WorkSafe and the Commercial Vehicle Safety team.


Police said the bus was driven on a closed road in snowy conditions and members of the New Zealand Army had to ferry the passengers from the stranded bus.


New Zealand recorded its lowest Labour Weekend road toll in over 10 years, with no deaths over the holiday period.


The worst year was in 1983 when 13 people died and 248 were injured, police reported.



Sgt Kidd said other than the speeding infringements, Central Otago Police had a relatively quiet weekend, because of the bad weather.


“To be honest it has been a pretty uneventful weekend with the snow keeping everyone inside and no incidents of note.”


With regard to the high number of speeders caught, he said their intention was to prevent harm in the communities, “and the roads are certainly one of our biggest risks so we will be out there actively patrolling looking for opportunities to discourage this sort of behaviour.”


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