'Higher levels' of reckless driving blamed for rise in accidents

The AA has pointed out what it believes to be a rising level of recklessness causing road crashes and deaths.

The NZ Automobile Association has expressed concerns of reckless behaviour on New Zealand roads causing an increasing proportion of fatal accidents following an analysis of previous holiday periods.

Thirty-five people died on New Zealand roads last month, eclipsing the four previous January totals.

AA road safety spokesperson Dylan Thomsen said analysis of fatal crashes over the Xmas-New Year holiday period revealed a concerning trend.

"Our analysis has raised some real concerns that not only are the numbers of fatal crashes staying high but there appears to be higher levels of reckless behaviour involved in them."

Three quarters of fatal crashes over the two previous Christmas-New Year holiday periods involved alcohol and/drugs or a vehicle occupant not wearing a seatbelt – frequently both.

Thomsen said this was a much larger proportion than the 50% revealed in a previous analysis.

While the holiday periods were a "small snapshot of crashes", he said it was a "concerning sign" that warranted wider investigation.

“We think the [Ministry of Transport] urgently needs to do a bigger piece of analysis to understand whether the proportion of fatal crashes involving reckless and extreme behaviour has grown in recent times.”

Police Superintendent Steve Greally told 1News there were several reasons that contributed to road deaths.

“Speed, alcohol, drugs, distraction and unrestrained drivers and passengers are still the main causes of death.”

Police urged people to consider other motorists and reminded them that actions while driving had consequences, he said.

"We need to remove this mindset drivers have that, ‘It wouldn’t happen to me’ because the fact is a serious crash can happen to anyone, at any time.”

Greally said drivers had a responsibility to keep their passengers, other road users and themselves safe at any time.

“Police can’t control the actions of every driver 24/7. We can’t be beside you in the car telling you to slow down, or to put your seatbelt on.

"Road safety is something we all must take a greater responsibility for.”