E Local Article - December 2017: Inspector Kay Lane

Well, it has been a busy festive season and now we are into the summer holiday period. With a large proportion of Counties Manukau residents travelling away to holiday destinations throughout the country, many of which require driving for lengthy periods, it is important to make a few checks and preparation for the trip.

Firstly, ensure your vehicle is up to WOF standard, paying particular attention to tyres and brakes. Plan your drive time, ensuring the driver takes plenty of breaks, so they can remain focussed during lengthy driving periods.

Always ensure you drive to the conditions, and with lengthy delays sometimes over the holiday period, particularly to favourite spots, such as the Coromandel; patience behind the wheel is required.

Vehicles towing is another issue when families are travelling to holiday destinations. Be considerate if you are driving a slower vehicle or towing, and when possible pull over to the left to allow other road users pass to travel at normal road speed. Impatience is often the cause of many crashes, where chances are taken by motorists to get past slower vehicles. Please ensure trailers, caravans, motor-homes and the like are up to WOF standard, and ensure you drive to the conditions and consider the driving requirements of these vehicles when in operation.

As we are in the holiday mode, which often includes partaking in BBQ’s, dinners, parties and alcohol consumption, always ensure there is a sober driver. We have been conducting CBT checkpoints in and around our Police District and I can assure you other Police districts are doing the same. The best decision on a night out, or after consuming alcohol is to have a sober driver.

If you are indeed planning on going away on holiday please ensure your property is locked securely when away from the address, and don’t forget your sheds, garages and out buildings. If you are away on holiday, please advise your neighbours and have someone check on your property regularly. Make every effort to make it look as if people are still living at the address daily, giving consideration to installing timers on lights, having a friend move vehicles around, hang washing on the line and clear your post. Please don’t make it easy for burglars, as steps can be taken to prevent your property being targeted.

Finally, on behalf of Counties Manukau Police I would like to wish you a very safe and Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.