Police Snippets

 

Speeding drivers put others at risk
Following a horrifying week of tragic death and serious crashes on New Zealand roads, including several Kaipara residents, Senior Constable Rob Cato has a heartfelt message for all drivers. 

“Like many of my colleagues, and on too many occasions, I have had to advise someone their loved one has died… this is not the part of my job I like.”

He says about a month ago he attended a collision between a child and vehicle in Wellsford, watching as the father of the seven-year-old pleaded for his son not to die as he lay motionless on the road. 

“I just wanted to go home and cuddle my kids. One minute this kid was full of energy and the next… I don’t like enforcing road rules, but I am passionate about why I have to.”

He says he is aware of the circumstances leading up to the collision.

“I see it repeated all the time, with the only difference being that most kids hit by cars are walking or riding bikes and do not generally run out in front of vehicles, but you can’t always anticipate what a child is going to do.” 

Cato says he has also attended a number of motorbike accidents in the last few weeks which could have been prevented. 

“Motorbike riders who choose to ride the roads around Mangawhai like it’s a race track, guess what? It’s only a matter of time before you find that loose gravel and I’ll see you then,” he says. “When we meet you might be laughing with your mates about the power pole you nearly hit, or maybe you won’t see me because you will be in too much pain and I’ll be arranging for one of my colleagues to visit your wife or kids.” 

Every driver who chooses to speed puts others at risk Cato says, but so do drivers who flash headlights to warn speeding motorists of a speed camera or other types of enforcement: “You're as bad as those who speed... think about it logically.”

He says it is ‘a no brainer’ that travelling at the speed limit, not driving drunk, driving to the conditions, not using your mobile phone gives everyone the best chance for survival. 

“Just because a road has a 100kmh speed restriction or even 50kmh restriction, you don’t have to actually drive that fast. Yes, we have to be courteous to other road users, and pull over or keep left, but sometime the conditions, weather and roads make travelling at those speeds unsafe,” Cato says. “I am very passionate about enforcing speed limits. It has got nothing to do with revenue or quotas, but if you’re not convinced, give me your phone number and I’ll invite you to our next fatal car crash or the next time a kid is hit by a car. Unfortunately, there is going to be a next time!"

REPORTING/Julia Wade