Additional police officers will be targeting the "fatal five" factors in traffic offending from today as part of a national safety campaign for Labour Weekend, Dunedin area road policing manager Senior Sergeant Phil McDouall says.
Alcohol, speed, restraints, driver behaviour and manner of driving were the "fatal five" things officers would be checking for, he said.
Inconsiderate drivers in campervans or towing trailers with boats or failing to let other traffic pass would be stopped.
"If you can pull over, you should pull over. We are asking people to drive to the conditions and be tolerant of other people, because there will be a lot of extra traffic on the roads," Snr Sgt McDouall said.
National police statistics showed there had been an average of four fatal crashes resulting in five deaths each Labour Weekend since 2001.
Last year, eight people died in seven fatal crashes, five of which occurred on the open road.
Police calculated the total social cost of those fatal crashes last Labour Weekend was more than $45 million, taking into account the cost of emergency services, medical care, lost wages and other factors relating to fatalities.
Snr Sgt McDouall said that in the wider Dunedin area, about eight additional police officers would be targeting traffic at checkpoints and on the open road as people left the city for holiday destinations.
Nationwide, there would be a 4kmh tolerance above the speed limit between 4pm on Friday and 6am on Tuesday.
"So those travelling at 5kmh or more above the speed limit can be ticketed," he said.
