Summer holiday travel can be fraught with frustration and unwelcome surprises and New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is doing its part to make journeys smoother around the South Island.

As is the Kiwi tradition from pre-Christmas onward, thousands are expected to hit the state highways to travel to holiday destinations.

With that comes potential for delays on the roads and accidents as people get tired, rush to get to their destinations, or are distracted by all that is going on around them.

“If you are travelling, especially for long distances, there are some basic things you can do to help ensure you and your family get to your holiday location safely,” says NZTA system manager for the central South Island, Mark Pinner.

“Make sure you plan ahead, using our Journey Planner site so you know of any issues you are likely to strike along the way. 

We’ve removed all planned roadworks and restrictions to journeys to ensure that at the busiest time of year, people can travel with the least disruption.

Temporary speed limits and traffic management have been removed over the Christmas-New Year period (20 December to 5 January).

There are a few sites that will remain under a lower speed limit, and/or with cones to define the lane edge, where rockfall hazards or river or coastal erosion repairs remain incomplete after storms earlier in the year.”

“Certain sections of state highway will be busy with traffic, and that’s why it is good to give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination.

A good tool is our Holiday Journey Planner, which provides estimates of busy and peak traffic times on state highways based on previous measures of traffic volumes.”

“Make sure you get enough rest before travelling, and that you stop and take a break if fatigue sets in, and drive to the conditions that are in front of you.

While we expect good driving conditions in summer, there is always the potential for weather events like thunderstorms, heavy rain and high winds that can make travel treacherous.”

NZTA journey manager for Otago and Southland, Nicole Felts, says while NZTA contractors in Otago and Southland will also be downing tools at worksites over the holiday period, they will be ready to respond to any situations that arise on the highways to keep traffic flowing.

The age-old safety messages apply this holiday season as much as ever, she says.

“Watch your speed and be patient when stuck in traffic or behind slower vehicles. Making a bad decision out of frustration can have terrible consequences.

Avoiding drink-driving and ensuring you wear a seatbelt can be the difference between enjoying a great summer holiday and a tragedy that has long-lasting impacts on families.”

“People should be able to enjoy the holidays and have a drink and be merry if they wish, but if you know you are going to need to drive, a simple rule of thumb is not to drink at all and save it for when you are done travelling.”

“Wearing a seatbelt reduces the risk of being killed or seriously injured in a road crash by about 40 per cent. If everyone wore their seatbelts, an estimated 20 lives could be saved from road crashes each year.

So, it’s a no-brainer to buckle up yourself and make sure those travelling with you are also buckled in.”

“From NZTA, we wish everyone happy holidays and good travels this festive season.”

• The Ministry of Transport will be providing daily updates on the holiday road toll throughout the break. Further background and historical crash data for the holiday period can also be found here.

• NZTA’s new drink-driving campaign with police can be viewed here.

Getting there safely – top tips for safe holiday driving

• Plan ahead. Get your vehicle checked before you head out, plan to avoid peak traffic where you can and give yourself enough time to take plenty of rest or sightseeing breaks along the way. It’s your holiday after all, so why not make the journey an enjoyable part of it?

• Drive to the conditions. Check the weather forecast before leaving home, as well as our real-time traffic updates for any incidents or closures. This isn’t just about weather conditions — it’s about the road you’re on, the traffic, your vehicle and load, your speed, your following distance, and adjusting your driving for wet and windy conditions.

• Watch out for fatigue. Long trips are tiring and fatigue can be deadly behind the wheel. Get a good night’s sleep beforehand, plan in advance where you’ll take breaks along the way, and be aware of any medication you’re taking that might affect your driving.

• Keep your cool. Holiday driving can be frustrating with busy roads, stifling heat and restless kids in the car. So please, be courteous and patient while on the roads. Don’t get provoked by other drivers’ aggressive behaviour, and wait to overtake until you get to a passing lane or can see enough clear road ahead of you to do it safely. And be sure to take enough games, books, or electronics to keep the kids occupied along the way.

• Buckle up. Don’t let your family holiday be marred by tragedy simply because someone didn’t buckle up. If you’re the driver, you are legally responsible for making sure all passengers under the age of 15 are securely restrained with either a safety belt or child restraint. Children must be properly restrained by an approved child restraint until their 7th birthday.

• Don’t drink and drive. Your judgement and reaction times begin to deteriorate after even one drink. Keep it simple – if you’re going to drink, don’t drive.