Police are pleading with the public to take care on our roads after five fatal collisions this weekend.
Eight people have died since Saturday - five in four separate crashes in the Waikato and three in a single-vehicle collision in Northland. Multiple others have also been injured.
"Every loss of life on our roads is a tragedy and these deaths will have a major impact both on individual families and wider communities," says Police Acting National Manager of Road Policing Inspector Gini Welch.
"We need everybody to do their part in keeping our roads safe."
Three people were killed in an accident in Whananaki, northeast of Whangarei, after their car hit a tree at 2:13am on Sunday. The crash also left a child in a critical condition.
In the Waikato, one died in a two-vehicle crash in Tahuna, 18km north of Morrinsville, on Saturday morning.
Another died near Pipiroa when their car hit a power pole on Saturday evening.
Two died following a truck and car crash near Cambridge on Saturday evening, which also left a passenger seriously injured.
And one person died following a serious crash on State Highway 3 near Mangakowhai Road, Piopio in King Country on Sunday.
The road toll so far this year is now 44.
NZTA urges drivers to remember road safety
NZ Transport Agency senior manager of road safety Fabian Marsh urges drivers to remember the basics when it comes to safe driving.
"All of us can make mistakes when we're driving, and we are all vulnerable in a crash," he says.
"But we can all take a few simple steps to make sure a mistake doesn't result in loss of life or limb."
- Make sure everyone in the car is wearing a seatbelt on every trip
- Avoid distractions like cellphones
- Drive within the speed limit
- Never get behind the wheel if you're intoxicated
"Mistakes are inevitable, but deaths and serious injuries from crashes are not," he adds.
