Media Statement

For immediate release

Tuesday, 25 November 2003

Adams: Road safety campaigns ‘all wrong’

Auckland-based United Future MP Paul Adams today lashed out at the emphasis on speed reduction as a major part of trying to reduce the national road toll.

“Speed doesn’t kill,” said the former rally driver, “incompetent drivers do. Even the Land Transport Safety Authority’s own website says excessive speed contributed to 23% of all fatal crashes and 19% of all serious injury crashes in 2000. In other words, speed was not a factor in 77% of all fatal crashes.

“I think the speed limit should be increased to 115 kph on the open road between 10pm and 6am, as this would help drivers to stay alert if traveling long distances at night.

“Drivers who are stuck behind slow drivers get frustrated and then start risky overtaking manoeuvres. Dangerous overtaking causes many accidents and upsets fellow motorists.

“If someone comes up behind you when you are driving below the speed limit and indicate they want to pass, you should be obliged to let them pass at the first opportunity.

“It should be illegal to be in the outside lane of a multi-lane highway with someone behind you who wants to pass.”

Mr Adams said traffic authorities should be much harder on slow drivers who hold up traffic and he wants greater driver education campaigns, particularly in the area of car control.

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