Pay the fine or listen to some road safety advice

Hawke’s Bay motorists who don’t buckle their kids in properly have the option of paying a fine – or not.

The Hawke’s Bay Road Safety Compliance Project makes fines optional for people who don’t use child car restraints properly or who don’t wear a cycle helmet. They can either pay the $150 fine or have it waived if they go through a safety checklist with a project coordinator, who educates them on car seat or cycle helmet safety.

Project manager Sergeant Nigel Hurley of the Napier STU says since the project began, compliance statistics for the area have improved dramatically.

“We’ve noticed a significant drop in the number of people not using child car seats properly. While the majority of motorists have a child car restraint, many don’t know how they should be fitted properly with a tether strap.

Hawke’s Bay Road Safety Compliance Project members, from left, coordinator Liz Schlierike, Sergeant Nigel Hurley and Plunket trainer Fiona Whaanga. Photo: NZ Police

“There is a huge public education void we aim to fill with this project,” says Nigel. “A lot of it is genuine ignorance, rather than intentional.”

The project is a multi-agency initiative working with Plunket and funded by Road Safe Hawkes Bay and ACC, with contributions from other agencies from time to time.

The Hawke’s Bay Road Safety Compliance Charitable Trust was formed six years ago when Nigel took on the project. The trust employs coordinator Liz Schlierike to educate motorists on safety issues.

The project is simple in practice. When a ticket is issued to a motorist for non-compliance, they are given the option of paying the fine or contacting Liz to be put through the safety checklist.

If that option is taken, the motorist is given advice on the right car seat or cycle helmet to use and how to install and use them correctly. Other road safety advice is also given. Liz advises police when the motorist has done the safety checklist and the fine is then waived.

Nigel says the feedback from motorists has been overwhelmingly positive.

“People are genuinely grateful for the advice they are given and are even more grateful when they don’t have to pay a fine.

“Our recidivist rates have tumbled and it is very rare for us to ticket someone twice. If that happens, they are charged with careless use of a motor vehicle.”

The project is also a useful tool in getting criminals off the road, as judges have been disqualifying drivers if they are recidivist offenders.

“Once staff understood this was a great way to target criminals, there was a huge buy-in. The last criminal that I gave compliance to was later disqualified for six months,” Nigel says.

The project is currently operating in Napier, Hastings, Gisborne and Invercargill, but Nigel says there is potential to expand it nationwide.

“It will have huge benefits for your community and you will see an improvement in compliance rates. We are happy to share our knowledge and help start projects elsewhere,” he says.