Key Takeaways:
- The 2025 road toll for Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty stands at five, with 33 deaths in the wider Bay of Plenty police district.
- Harsher penalties for impaired drivers are being called for to help save lives on New Zealand roads.
- A roadside drug-testing regime is being rolled out nationwide, starting with the Wellington police district, with a target of 50,000 tests per year.
- The testing regime screens for recent use of THC, MDMA, cocaine, and methamphetamine, with a positive result leading to a ban from driving for 12 hours.
- The Government is being urged to reform road safety laws and impose harsher penalties for drivers under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
Introduction to the Issue
As the year 2025 comes to a close, the road toll for Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty stands at five, with 33 deaths in the wider Bay of Plenty police district. While this is a lower number compared to recent years, it is still a concerning statistic that highlights the need for continued efforts to improve road safety. The case of Vaishali Kowhai McNeill, a 15-year-old who was killed in a car accident on State Highway 2, serves as a tragic reminder of the devastating consequences of impaired driving. The driver responsible for the accident, Donald McGregor, was found to have methamphetamine and cannabis in his blood at the time of the crash and was sentenced to 19 months in prison.
The Call for Harsher Penalties
Mann, Vaishali’s mother, is calling on the Government to reform road safety laws and impose harsher penalties for drivers under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. She believes that the current penalties are not sufficient to deter drivers from getting behind the wheel while impaired and that a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison should be imposed on those who kill someone while driving under the influence. Mann also believes that companies should be held liable when one of their drivers is caught driving impaired, as they have a duty of care to ensure their drivers are not driving under the influence. This call for harsher penalties is not just a personal plea, but a necessary step to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
The Roadside Drug-Testing Regime
In an effort to combat impaired driving, the Government has started rolling out a roadside drug-testing regime, which began in the Wellington police district on December 15. The regime screens for recent use of THC, MDMA, cocaine, and methamphetamine, and a positive result will lead to a ban from driving for 12 hours. If the second roadside test is also positive, the driver will be banned from driving for 12 hours, and if it is negative, the driver can continue driving, but their saliva sample will be sent to the lab for testing against 25 drugs. The police target is to carry out 50,000 roadside tests per year, with the goal of reducing the number of impaired drivers on the road. The rollout of this regime is a significant step towards improving road safety, and its effectiveness will be closely monitored in the coming years.
The Importance of Road Safety
The importance of road safety cannot be overstated, and it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that they are driving safely and responsibly. Senior Sergeant Wayne Hunter, Western Bay of Plenty road policing manager, notes that people need to remember that road safety is "everyone’s responsibility" and that taking unnecessary risks on the road can have devastating consequences. The provisional Ministry of Transport data shows that there have been 33 deaths in 31 crashes in the wider Bay of Plenty police district as of December 31, with the majority of these crashes occurring on roads with a speed limit of 100km/h. This data highlights the need for continued efforts to improve road safety, including education campaigns and enforcement of traffic laws.
The Need for Reform
The case of Vaishali Kowhai McNeill highlights the need for reform of road safety laws and harsher penalties for drivers under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. Mann’s plea to other drivers is simple but powerful: "Don’t take drugs or drink and drive. One reckless decision can destroy entire families and communities." The Government’s response to this issue will be closely watched, and it is hoped that they will take a strong stance against impaired driving and implement measures to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future. The introduction of the roadside drug-testing regime is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to address the root causes of impaired driving and to hold drivers accountable for their actions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the 2025 road toll for Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty is a reminder of the need for continued efforts to improve road safety. The case of Vaishali Kowhai McNeill highlights the devastating consequences of impaired driving and the need for harsher penalties for drivers under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. The rollout of the roadside drug-testing regime is a significant step towards improving road safety, and it is hoped that the Government will continue to take a strong stance against impaired driving. Ultimately, road safety is everyone’s responsibility, and it requires a collective effort to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future. By working together, we can create safer roads and prevent the loss of innocent lives.
