Media statement | 28 February 2005

Speeders - they're killing us

The latest instalment in New Zealand's road safety enforcement and advertising campaign focuses on the loss of innocent life at the hands of speeding drivers, with a new television advertisement depicting the emotional trauma wrought on the surviving family of a victim of excessive speed.

Speeding remains the number one killer on New Zealand roads. Last year over 150 people were killed and another 2,500 were injured by speeding drivers. Thousands more lives were devastated by the needless loss of a loved one.

Speeding is an ingrained behaviour for many New Zealanders, and unlike drink-driving many people have yet to make the link between speed and death and injury on our roads.

Director of Land Transport Wayne Donnelly said the aim of the new advertisement was to show the general public that people who drive too fast are taking innocent lives.

"Most New Zealanders don’t want to share the road with drivers who put their lives and the lives of people they care about at risk – this ad is part of a campaign to increase the wider community’s intolerance of dangerous behaviour on our roads,” Mr Donnelly said.

The new advertisement will run air from 1 March.

For more information:

Andy Knackstedt
Media Manager
Land Transport New Zealand
Ph: 04 931 8822 or 0212 763 222