Coronavirus: police worry about unsafe vehicles as travel restrictions ease

Thursday, 14 May 2020

Waikato road policing manager Inspector Jeff Penno is warning people to check their cars are actually fit to be back on the road.

Driver fatigue and unsafe vehicles are just two of the concerns police have as travel restrictions ease, allowing people to move freely around the country once again.

New Zealand moved to alert level 2 on Thursday, meaning inter-regional travel is once again allowed after close to eight weeks without it.

Before hitting the road Waikato road policing manager Inspector Jeff Penno said the key things for people to check were their tyres, windscreen and mirrors, indicators, any rust and lights.

Tyres and lights were crucial, especially as we moved into darker months and winter roads, Penno said.

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Penno also encouraged people to check their tyre pressure, which could deflate as cars sat idle.

“It will be very apparent when you try to stop in an emergency.'

As well as the physical things that could be wrong with vehicles, Penno said the lockdown had also been mentally challenging for people, so driver fatigue was something else to keep an eye out for.

“We are already putting significant resources on the road for Queen's Birthday weekend.

“I'm really concerned we are going to get a whole pile of people on the road who haven't driven for a while, vehicle not checked and tyres worn down, that worries me.

“There's only so much police enforcement can do, it comes back to the individual road user caring about themselves and the community.'

Even though a warrant of fitness and drivers licences that expired during lockdown were being excused from tickets for now, Penno said that did not mean you could drive with a dangerous car.

“Our vehicles are still expected to be warrant of fitness standard.”

While the roads would be much busier with traffic, there would also be more people walking and cycling, NZ Transport Agency senior manager road safety Fabian Marsh said.

“We know that people are maintaining physical distances when they’re out walking and cycling, and that is what we want to see.

“However, pedestrians and cyclists are also much more vulnerable to injury than drivers in a crash.

“If you’re driving a vehicle it’s crucial to stay alert, slow down and give plenty of room when passing people on bikes or on foot.”