Four serious crashes - including two involving fatalities - on Southern roads late last month has prompted a reminder to motorists.
The reminders come as the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) confirms it has lowered speed limits at three sites on state highways in greater Dunedin.
Those sites are on State Highway 1 between the Mosgiel turn-off and East Taieri (dropped 20kmh to 80kmh), SH1 through East Taieri drops 10kmh to 60kmh, and a new 70kmh limit has been imposed on SH87 through Hyde.
The changes were the result of a speed limit review, and following consultation with the AA, and supported by the police.
''We're aiming to reduce deaths and serious injuries by taking action in four key areas - safe roads and roadsides, safe vehicles, safe road use and safe speeds,'' NZTA Otago-Southland state highways manager Ian Duncan said.
Otago rural acting area commander, Inspector Andrew Burns, welcomed the announcement, saying police worked closely with other agencies to ''minimise mistakes'' on the country's roads.
A 35-year-old man died in a Taieri Rd, Dunedin, crash on June 22 and three days later a 32-year-old Riverton woman died following a head-on crash on State Highway 1 north of Balclutha.
On Friday, a 66-year-old woman received critical injuries and an 82-year-old woman serious injuries when their car and a heavy truck collided on SH1 near the Henley Rd intersection.
On Sunday, a 32-year-old man suffered serious leg injuries after a crash on State Highway 6 near Lumsden.
Insp Burns said all serious crashes impacted on families and the community, and the Taieri Rd fatality may have been prevented if the driver had worn a seat belt.
While the majority of motorists were driving well, people needed to drive to the conditions, and keep within the speed limits.
A key message for drivers was to check the tread on their vehicle's tyres, that all lights were working and that wipers did not smear windows.
