Southern district road policing manager Inspector Tania Baron is pleading for all motorists to wear a safety belt before setting out this Easter weekend.
In the past five years, one person died, 18 suffered serious injury and 56 sustained minor injuries in crashes on Southern roads during Easter weekend.
The death was that of a tourist last year, who was not wearing her seatbelt.
''She was sitting in the rear of the van and had been propelled through and on the way caused injuries to other people,'' Insp Baron said.
''Had she been wearing a seatbelt she would most likely have survived and others in the vehicle wouldn't have sustained injuries either.''
The first quarter of this year produced the worst road toll on Southern roads since 1995 and since then another woman had died, bringing the total to 14.
''We had a crash earlier this week where four young people were injured after their car rolled,'' she said.
''None of those people were wearing seatbelts. It makes me really cross. It is just pure luck none of those people lost their lives.''
''Last month, a woman and a man lost their lives when the car they were in appears to have crossed the centre line into the path of an oncoming truck. There is a very good chance that the woman would have survived if she had been wearing a seatbelt.
''I am constantly amazed at finding people who don't know how to wear a safety belt.
''Come on people - it's not that hard.
''I regularly see people who have the belt under their arm, rather than over their shoulder.
''Trust me, it's not going to work very well in a crash if you don't wear it correctly.''
The message was simple - safety belts save lives.
''Unfortunately it's my staff, and innocent members of the public, who end up dealing with the unnecessary carnage on our roads.
''Police take this seriously because we're confronted with the seriousness of the consequence of people's poor decision making every day.''
Excessive speed and distractions also played their part in death and injury on New Zealand's roads.
Drivers using cellphones were a particular cause of frustration.
''Talking on your mobile phone while driving is putting other people's lives at risk,'' Insp Baron said.
''If you must make a call, pull over.''
Officers would again be policing a reduced speed tolerance of 4kmh and anyone pulled over could expect to be breath-tested.
''The lowest ever Easter road toll was zero deaths in 2012 and this is what we are aiming for this coming holiday weekend,'' she said.
''Expect to see a high presence of police across the Southern district in both marked and unmarked vehicles.''
NZ Transport Agency journey manager Lee Wright said drivers should plan ahead and prepare for poor weather.
Rain is forecast for much of coastal and inland Otago today and tomorrow.
''Wet, slippery roads can be unforgiving of even small mistakes, particularly on bends,'' Ms Wright said.
Roads around Queenstown were expected to be particularly heavy with holiday traffic and 10am to noon on Easter Monday was the busiest time on State Highway 6 out of the resort.
Motorists were urged to be patient, allow extra time and expect delays at ''traffic pinch points'' in Frankton, such as the roundabout and Kawarau Falls Bridge.
Poor or dangerous driving can be reported on *555.
The Easter holiday period begins at 4pm on Thursday and ends at 6am on Tuesday.
