People taking to the roads this long holiday weekend are urged to plan ahead, drive to the conditions and obey speed limits.
The NZ Transport Agency has updated its Holiday Journeys interactive travel planner for Labour Weekend.
The tool shows predicted traffic conditions for popular routes in Auckland, Northland and further afield over the long weekend, based on travel patterns from previous years.
NZTA regional manager maintenance and operations for Auckland and Northland, Jacqui Hori-Hoult, says where possible, people should aim to travel outside the busiest periods.
“In Northland, delays are predicted on State Highway 1 at Whangārei for northbound traffic from late Friday morning, right through until around 7pm that evening, with the heaviest traffic expected between 2pm and 6pm.
“Delays for southbound traffic are spread across the weekend, on Friday afternoon, Saturday from mid-morning through to lunch and an hour and half either side of lunch on Sunday.
“Traffic is busy for much of the day on Monday, with the worst expected between 11am and 3pm.
“Traffic is expected to be busy on SH1 between Puhoi and Wellsford between noon and around 7.30pm on Friday, and again between 10.30am and 2pm on Saturday.
“Southbound, people can expect delays on Monday between 10am and 6.30pm, with the worst predicted between noon and 6pm.
“Further south, people should expect traffic across the weekend for travel northbound between Bombay and Manukau.
“Those travelling in the opposite direction can expect delays between 10.30am and 7.30pm on Friday, particularly between 11.30am and 6.30pm, and again between 9am and 2pm on Saturday, with the heaviest traffic expected between 11am and 1.30pm.”
Because predicted travel times can change based on traffic incidents, weather or driver behaviour, people should visit the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website at journeys.nzta.govt.nz for real-time travel information, traffic cameras, and updates on delays, roadworks and road closures before they travel.
Hori-Hoult says everyone should take extra care when travelling over the holiday weekend due to increased traffic volumes, congestion, tiredness and people driving in unfamiliar environments.
“We can all take simple actions to stay safe. That means checking your car is safe before your journey, keeping your speed down, driving sober, watching for the signs of fatigue and sharing the driving.
“Drive to the conditions, whether it’s the weather, the road you’re on, the time of day or the volume of traffic on the roads.
“Keep a safe following distance from vehicles in front so you can stop safely and take regular breaks to stay alert.”
Superintendent Steve Greally, Director of Road Policing, reinforces the continual message from previous long weekends that officers will be visible patrolling roads with a focus on reducing harm.
“Our teams continue to work tirelessly throughout the country to make sure everyone remains safe on our roads every day and long weekends are no different.
“There’s no room for complacency and we want motorists to take note whenever and wherever they are travelling.
“We all have a responsibility to drive and ride safely on our roads.”
Greally says a large volume of work is being done within districts focused on road safety and advises those who are caught offending can expect enforcement action to be taken.
“Each of our policing districts will have their respective operations and plans in place to ensure travellers can make it to their destinations safely.
“Those who blatantly choose to drive dangerously whether it’s driving without a seatbelt or impaired by drugs and alcohol, using a mobile phone and speeding, they can expect to be ticketed.”
