Editorial: Safety must be a priority

OPINION: Although any death on our roads is one too many, at time of writing the country's holiday road toll stands at just two, in five days, a good start to the holiday period.

That number obviously cannot be seen in a vacuum and the fact that six people died in the hours leading up to the official start of the holiday toll period, at 4pm on Christmas Eve, throws it into sharp perspective.

However, the relative lack of fatalities on our roads from Christmas Day onwards remains a good outcome thus far.

The holiday period still has some considerable way to run, however, and we are entering the time when the risk is arguably greatest during the festive season, particularly in regions like ours which are blessed with many popular holiday spots.

While today's weather forecast for Timaru may not support the statement, it is clear that warmer summer weather has arrived over the last week, which inevitably puts people in the mood to relax, not just physically but mentally. Couple that with the fact that tomorrow is New Year's Eve, a time when alcohol consumption peaks, and that some people who stayed at home for Christmas are now heading for high country holiday spots and it's clear that the potential for accidents is high.

If anything, greater vigilance than ever is required right now.

And it shouldn't be forgotten that it's not just on our roads that caution, courtesy and common sense need to be present in abundance. Many of the region's best known holiday spots are around water; either at the coast or alongside any number of pristine lakes.

Boating, like driving, is a potentially dangerous exercise, especially when the number of craft on the water is as high as it's likely to be at the moment, and mixing that with alcohol can be a recipe for disaster. Wearing lifejackets at a time like this is important and yes, the Herald probably was wrong to run a picture this week of boaties fishing without them, though they were close to shore in calm conditions. Being prepared for any eventuality is important.

Undoubtedly, this is an exciting time of the year, as we reflect on what has happened in the past 12 months and look ahead with hope to the next 12. Whether the preceding year has been good or bad, this is a time for optimism for most, but the promise of a good New Year can so easily be ruined by stupidity.

Please, in the quest for enjoyment, make safety a priority to ensure the prospects for 2010 remain bright when the clock strikes midnight tomorrow.

- © Fairfax NZ News