Z Energy, NZ Police and NZTA Waka Kotahi remind Kiwi to drive safe this holiday season

With increased traffic anticipated on our road over the summer season, Z Energy (Z), NZ Police and NZTA Waka Kotahi are working together to engage Z customers with a range of road safety messages across their nationwide network.

The aim is to remind drivers on their journeys of important safety tips before they get back behind the wheel.

Starting this week, bollard signage will be rolled out at the pumps with safety messages that will be in place in the lead up to the holiday period and over the break to remind drivers to take care on the road. There will also be digital screens at stations that will display safety messaging over the next 12 months.

The partnership between the organisations came about following a joint-effort between Z and Police to support road safety for Invercargill’s Burt Munro Challenge earlier in the year, which saw thousands of people hopping on their motorcycles and head to the Invercargill-based event. Together, the team shared a range of targeted messages at Z sites located on key travel routes to the event and had Police officers stop in to remind customers to stay safe on the roads.  

South Island Z Retailer, Jonathan Usher, said it was awesome to be helping get the message out there. “All of us retailers are really committed to our communities,” he says. “And if we care about our communities, road safety has to be a pillar of that, because any harm on the road doesn’t just impact the person in the accident itself, but everyone around them.”

Since the event in February, the collaboration has continued to grow, with Z rolling out road safety messages for the Easter holiday period, Road Safety Week, King’s Birthday and Motorcycle Awareness Month. While the next Burt Munro event might not be until February next year, the team are already looking forward to getting behind the initiative.

Police Inspector Dan Mattison, Manager of Strategy and Relationships, says the Police welcome Z taking an active role in supporting road safety.

“We believe road safety is a responsibility we all share, and the public play a vital part in achieving safer roads. The benefit of partnering with Z is the opportunity to reach a captive driving audience,” he says.

“If we can influence people while they’re at the pump with a safety message, that leads them to drive in a more responsible or safer way – and in so doing reduce the risk to all road users – it can only be a positive.”

Lauren Cooke, National Manager Communications and Marketing at NZTA, says everyone should be able to get to where they’re going safely, no matter the time of year.

“With New Zealander’s heading out on the road during summer, it’s important to remind them of the driving choices they make to keep themselves, their passengers and other people on the road safe. Having important reminders on driving safely in places where people are stopping during their journey, helps to ensure people are making safe choices while it’s top of mind,” she says.