Every single extra kilometre per hour matters, Southern District road policing manager inspector James Ure says.

He wants to get that message across to motorists in Otago and Southland, as his staff focus on those who are driving above the speed limit.

“Our teams will be looking very closely at those who are driving 0-10km/h above the speed limit,” he said.

Southern District Police will be looking to increase their presence on the road network and maintain a strong element of surprise, James said.

“People should expect to see police on roads right across the district – anywhere and anytime – looking to keep our community safe.”

Inspector Ure says an approach by staff to monitor people who are driving at even slightly above the speed limit will play a big part in helping keep people safe.

“Every opportunity we can take to reduce speeds, even by a fraction, has the potential to make a huge difference to safety on our roads,” he said.

“The science tells us that just a 1km/hr decrease in mean speeds across the board equates to between a 4-6 percent reduction in fatal crashes.”

James said that was a potential saving of roughly 16 lives each year.

“That’s a huge risk we can avoid with a small reduction in speed.”

While police will be monitoring drivers, James stresses that motorists also need to play their part.

“Even when speed doesn’t cause a crash, it is the single biggest determinant in whether you and your passengers walk away or are carried away,” he said.

“It’s simple: less speed means less harm.”

PHOTO: Wānaka App