Road Safety

Distraction occurs when a driver's attention is diverted away from concentrating on driving.

There are three recognised categories of distraction:
Manual distraction: having your hands off the wheel, using your phone.
Visual distraction: looking at places other than where you should.
Cognitive distraction: when your mind is elsewhere; on the phone call, text/facebook post you've recently seen.

Passenger distraction:
Several studies have shown the crash risk for young drivers is higher if they have passengers in the car. With two or more passengers, the risk is 10 times greater compared to driving alone and the risk is at its greatest when the passengers are a similar age to the driver.

As a driver you can speak up and let your passengers know when their behaviour is distracting you. As a passenger, consider your role in the car and think about how your actions could distract the driver. Help the driver out by watching the road and managing other distractions in the car.

Cellphone distraction:
It's illegal for a driver to:
- Hold/use a mobile phone at any time behind the wheel
- Create, send or read any type of message while driving
- Email, use social media, video call, browse the internet, play games, take videos/photos
- Use the phone for navigation or to play music (unless handsfree)
- Perform any other activity not specifically listed 
These functions are only permitted when legally parked. The penalty for using a handheld mobile phone while driving is $150 and 20 demerit points on your license.

Best practice when driving:
- Don't use the phone at all (let calls go to voicemail)
- Only use your phone once you've pulled over and parked safely.
- Use an app/function like 'Do not disturb while driving' mode activated on your phone (notifications are silenced but you can still play music and get navigation assistance)

Note: a driver can legally make a 111 or *555 call if it isn't safe or practical to stop the car and make the call.

Driving while fatigued is very similar to driving while impaired from alcohol/drugs.

Many drivers manage fatigue through coffee, energy drinks, opening the window or turning up the radio; these are only effective for a short period of time and can actually make you feel worse when you stop using these interventions.

Before you drive:
- Plan ahead
- Avoid driving more than 8-10 hours a day
- Make sure you have a good night sleep before you travel, start fresh
- Drive at times where you are normally awake

On the road:
- Organise to share the driving
- Schedule regular 15 minute rest stops in the fresh air at least every two hours
- Passengers, stay alert to how your driver is coping; suggest a break or swap drivers.

Signs of fatigue include:
- Constant yawning
- Sore/heavy eyes, blurred vision
- Daydreaming
- Difficulty remembering the last few kilometers
- Variations in driving speed
- Drifting over the centreline or the seal edge 
- Impatience, lack of concentration or delayed reactions
- Trouble keeping your head up

When these signs appear, it is time to pull over and take a break.
If possible, share the drivers. If you are on your own, get out of the car and stretch or take a walk.

Take a break and manage driver fatigue, get there safe.

What is a flush median?
Flush medians are white diagonal lines, painted down the center of some urban and semi urban roads, marking an area of about one car width wide. You'll see these on State Highway 1 through Ashburton. They give you a safe place to stop and wait for a gap in the traffic.

Some handy tips on flush medians:
- It's alright to drive on a flush median for a short distance if you're turning into or out of a side road or driveway.
- If you're using the flush median to make a right hand turn you should indicate, then steer gently onto the median (use the area to slow down and brake)
- Carry out a similar manoeuvre if you're using the flush median as a refuge before merging into traffic on your left (remember to indicate and check your mirrors, accelerate and move gently into a gap of traffic)
- When using a flush median, always remember to watch out for pedestrians, other vehicles using the median and any raised islands.

At all intersections, check and check again.

Between 2019-2023, 320 crashes occurred at intersections in the district. Of those crashes, 144 involved an injury and nine were fatal.

Here are some simple tips to help you navigate intersections safely:

- At intersections with a Stop sign, always come to a complete stop. Do not just slow down.

- Always obey the Give Way rules. At Give Way signs, slow down and look in all directions, only proceed when you can do so safely.

- When you come to a roundabout, slow down and give way to all vehicles that will cross your path from the right.

- Don't pass vehicles whilst passing an intersection.

- When approaching an intersection without any signs, Give Way to all vehicles where it is unsafe to pull out in front of.
- At intersections controlled by traffic lights, be prepared to stop. Approaching at an appropriate speed makes stopping easier if the lights change from green to orange. Always stop on orange if you can safely do so.
- Take special care to look out for cyclists, motorcyclists and any pedestrians who may start crossing the road you're turning into.

Road Safety is vital for drivers of all ages. As part of the Ashburton District Council Road Safety Programme, mature drivers in the Ashburton District are offered a free annual course which is run by Age Concern.

What does this course involve:
You will be guided through a one day, five hour session using a workbook which you keep at the end of the session. The course is designed to be informative, enjoyable and informal (there are no tests/exams) You'll also receive a certificate of attendance. The course is free and includes morning tea, lunch and refreshments.

Who this course is for:
This course is for drivers aged 65+ and/or if any of the below scenarios have happened to you, then this course is ideal:
- Having several near misses or crashes in the past three years
- Being confused as to who should Give Way at an intersection
- Experiencing difficulty looking over your shoulder to change lanes
- Saying to yourself 'where did that car come from?'
- Having family and/or friends point out driving errors

2025 course dates TBC.
To book your place on the course, please contact Age Concern on (03) 366 0903 or email info@adc.govt.nz for more information.

Between 2019-2023, 27 crashes occurred involving motorcycles in the district. 10 of these were serious/fatal injury crashes.

Research has shown that wearing high visibility gear such as fluorescent clothing including helmets can reduce a motorcyclists risk. The more visible you are, the less chance there is of being hit. Never assume a driver has seen you, position yourself so drivers of other vehicles will see you. Get to know the blind spots and stay out of them.

Good gear can also prevent or reduce injuries in a crash by over half. Always wear appropriate safety gear when riding. Whatever your level, training will make you a better rider, as well as improving your handling skills, it will increase your ability to scan ahead for hazards, which will reduce your risk of being involved in a crash.

Safe riding habits:
- Have a suspicious on road attitude
- Scan for hazards by looking well ahead, behind and beside you
- Use your mirrors frequently
- Maintain a safety zone free of all hazards (if you ride faster or slower than the flow of traffic, you become a hazard)
- Identify an escape route in front of you at all times
- Ride with your lights on day and night
- Make sure other drivers can see you at all times (wear a bright coloured helmet, high visibility vest or strips)
- Ride and corner at safe speeds, no faster than a speed at which you can stop in the clear space ahead of you.
- Do not ride up between vehicles at intersections
- Do not weave between vehicles on multi-lane roads, it is illegal and dangerous. Remain within your own lane and practice safe following distances.

Always ride to the conditions.

Driving in New Zealand can be very different to driving in other countries.

Several crashes in the district are caused by not keeping to the left of the road, fatigue, distractions of the landscape and loss of control due to high speed.

General guidelines to keep you safe on the roads in Mid Canterbury are:
- If you are tired, pull over in a safe spot and have a rest
- Drive slower on the unsealed roads (around 70km/h)
- Stay focused on the road, pull over to a safe spot if you want to look at the landscape
- Always keep to the left hand side of the road

Ashburton District has multiple rail crossing points, including some pedestrian crossings.

Below are some facts about trains travelling through the district:
- Trains can travel at any time of the day or night - even if you think you know the train is schedule in your area, these can change whenever.
- A fully laden freight train is extremely heavy and can weigh up to a thousand tonnes.
- Trains can travel up to 100kph and cannot stop/swerve in a hurry
- Trains have the right of way over all users

At level crossings where there are warning bells and barrier arms you must:
- Stop your car
- Wait for the train to pass
- Wait for the lights to stop flashing and the barrier arm to lift before crossing

At a level crossing controlled by a Give Way or a STOP sign only, you must:
- Slow down and be prepared to stop
- If there is a STOP sign, stop your vehicle, look both ways and check the line is clear 
- Wait for any approaching train to pass, stop well before the tracks

Always ensure there is enough space on the other side before crossing your vehicle.

DO NOT stop on a rail crossing AT ANY TIME.

Seatbelts protect you in a crash or if the vehicle stops suddenly. Wearing a seatbelt reduces the risk of being killed or seriously injured in a road crash by about 40%.

Between 2019-2023, 378 injury crashes occurred the district where drivers/passengers were not wearing a restraint. 58 of these were serious/fatal injury crashes.

How seatbelts work:
When driving, the car and people inside have kinetic energy which is generated by the speed that you're travelling at. When a car comes to a stop, the kinetic energy must be transferred somewhere. In a gradual or sudden stop the energy is transferred to the brakes which causes the vehicle to slow down (decelerate) and stop.

Seatbelts are designed to help absorb the kinetic energy in a crash or sudden stop and prevent you from continuing to move forward. Without a seatbelt, you will continue to travel forward at speed until you are stopped by something else. If you're in the front seat, you may hit the dashboard or be thrown out the window onto the road. If you're in the back seat, you may hit the roof, front seats or other passengers.

Check your seatbelts:
Worn or damaged seatbelts can be dangerous and cause the belt to decrease strength or snap in a crash/sudden stop.

Common seatbelt problems include:
- Fraying or cuts to the belt
- Fading of the belt
- Damaged buckles including cracks or rust
- The belt won't retract
- The belt is twisted

All modern cars must be fitted with seatbelts in the front and back seats. If you're 15 years or over and drive/ride in a vehicle without wearing a seatbelt you could be fined. If you're the driver of the vehicle, you are responsible for ensuring all passengers under 15 are wearing seatbelts or age appropriate child restraints that are correctly fitted into their vehicles.

It's not only cars and other motor vehicles that use our roads in Mid Canterbury.

Here's some tips about other road users and how to share the road with them:

Pedestrians:
Pedestrian crossings are wide white lines that go across a road (also known as zebra crossings). They indicate where pedestrians can cross the road safely and vehicles are required to give way. There will often be signs indicating a crossing up ahead with give way white diamonds and a limit line to show where to stop, there will also be black/white poles with flashing orange lights on either side of the crossing. Some crossings have raised islands in the middle creating a safe space for pedestrians to wait/stop, especially when crossing wide two lane roads.

When approaching a pedestrian crossing you must:
- Slow down and be ready to stop
- Wait until the pedestrian has crossed fully and is clear of your vehicle when moving forward
- Keep the pedestrian crossing clear if you are in a queue of traffic, make sure there is plenty of room on the other side.
- If there is a raised island in the middle of the road, only stop for pedestrians on your side.

Horses:
Be polite when sharing the road with horse traffic. Horses can take fright easily so adjust your driving as soon as you see horses on the road in front of you. Pass wide and slow and NEVER toot your horn or accelerate your vehicle.

Cyclists:
These road users are hard to see and aren't as protected as other road users. Stay alert for cyclists and drive carefully when near them. Always allow 1.5 metres between you and the cyclist.

Trucks/buses:
Drivers of trucks/buses often have large blind spots behind and at the side of their vehicle. Adjust your following distances so you can be seen in their side mirrors. If you can't see their mirrors, they can't see you.

Overdimension vehicles:
Sometimes you'll see overdimension vehicles (such as vehicles carrying buildings). Because of their size and because they travel slower, you need to be extremely careful when driving near them. Slow down and be prepared to do what the pilot vehicle tells you to do. Be patient and be careful when passing, only pass when it is safe and legal to do so (remember that long loads can make passing more difficult)

Tractors:
You'll often see tractors/farm machinery on the roads all year round, and because of their size/speed you need to be extremely careful when driving near them. Begin to slow down as soon as you see a tractor ahead of you. Be patient and be careful when passing, only pass when it is safe and legal to do so. Be aware of tractors that have just stopped as they may be about to turn.

Speeding is one of the highest contributors to crashes in the district. No matter the cause of the crash, the speed of the driver determines the severity (whether anyone is killed, injured or walks away unharmed)

Faster speed means:
- More likelihood that the driver will lose control of the vehicle
- It takes longer to stop if there is a road hazard
- It is harder for others to judge the speed of your vehicle
- Much greater kinetic energy that must be absorbed by the impact; in other words, more damage caused.

The speed limit is set for a reason. Make sure you obey the speed limit.

Winter hazards:
- Ice on the roads; look out for high banks and tall trees that can stop sun getting on the road to melt the ice/snow (additionally our contractors grit some roads where ice forms in the early mornings) 
- Bridges; slow down over these as the bridge decks can be slippery
- Frozen windshields; use ice scrapers and cloth to clear ice off windshields/windows. Never drive if your vision is restricted or any part of your windshields/windows aren't clear (ice scrapers are available for free from Ashburton District Council)

First and foremost, consider if you need to drive on the roads at all. When there is snow and ice on the roads, it's best not to travel. Check the winter forecast frequently and if the forecast says snow, stock up on food and essential items before the snow arrives to ensure you don't have to go out.

If you do need to travel:
- Dress for the conditions
- Take a survival kit just in case (see list below)
- Tell someone the route you're travelling
- Ensure you have a full tank of petrol as there may be detours
- Try to travel in the middle of the day to ensure as much ice/snow has melted as possible

Winter survival kit:
- Windshield scraper and cloth 
- Water
- Blanket and extra warm clothing
- Snack food
- First aid kit
- Fluorescent distress flag
- Cell phone charger
- Tow rope
- Tyre chains
- Torch and extra batteries

How to drive in the snow/ice (where absolutely necessary)
- Drive to the conditions
- Avoid sudden braking and accelerating
- Always drive with your lights on
- Pump the brake pedal rather than pressing long/hard if on a slippery surface 
- Use a safe following distance of four seconds to the car in front in case they stop suddenly (when following a vehicle, pick a road sign/tree/roadside marker, then see how many seconds it takes; count 1,000, 2,000, 3,000 for you to pass the same spot)

The first six months after achieving a restricted licence are the riskiest for a young driver.

Between 2020-2024 there were 163 crashes recorded with a driver aged 16 to 20 years old. Eleven of these were fatal/serious injury crashes.

Young drivers are five times more likely to be involved in a vehicle accident than a learner driver and seven times more likely than a 45-49 year old driver. It is generally accepted that the reasons for this increase are a lack of knowledge/insight, peer pressure, driving skills and general lack of experience behind the wheel.

How can you help your child become a safer driver:
Supervision even during their restricted licence; the average supervised driving practice for young New Zealanders is 40 hours. It is internationally recommended that young drivers have 120 hours of supervised driving practice before driving alone.

Drop bad habits:
A parent's driving style, habits and attitudes to road safety will influence a young person's driving behaviour. A parent is likely to influence their child's driving behaviour before they even begin the process of learning to drive.

Driver training:
Focus on the quality and relevance of the training you give your child when they are on their learner's/restricted driver's licence. Search for a local driver trainer in your area if you're wanting your child to get professional training.

Going for your licence:
- The New Zealand Transport Agency have produced some handy guides to help you pass your restricted licence test and your full licence test.
- Drive is a free website which has online videos/resources to help learner/restricted licence holders pass their test.

Driving after taking illicit drugs is illegal and dangerous.

Drugs are present in nearly a third of all fatal crashes on our New Zealand roads. This is when a driver in a crash where people died, was found to have drugs in their blood. The most frequently found drug in road deaths and serious injuries are cannabis and methamphetamine.

Here in Ashburton District in the past five years, we have had 10 serious and fatal crashes where drugs have been involved.

Taking drugs can impair you and put you and other people at risk. Drugs affect how you take in and process information, they can slow down your reaction times, increase fatigue and change your perception of reality.

The consequences of taking drugs and driving:
- Death or serious injury: you may kill or seriously injure yourself or other people.
- Disqualified from driving: you may be disqualified from driving if you drive under the influence of alcohol. 
- Travel restrictions: many countries won't let you visit if you have a criminal record, including a drug driving conviction. 
- Job loss: you might lose your job if you have a drug driving conviction. Depending on your job and contract, you might face disciplinary action, suspension or termination. 
- Offences/infringements: you may have to pay tickets which can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. You may also have to pay court costs and legal fees.
- Criminal record: drug driving is an offence in New Zealand, which means if you are convicted, you'll have a criminal record. This can have long term consequences for you in all aspects of life.

Don't drive after taking drugs. It's not worth the risk.