The only good thing about last year’s road toll was that fatalities dropped below 300 for the first time since 2013.

That doesn’t stop every one of the 293 deaths being a tragedy, but fewer are always better. In 1990, there were more than 700 people killed in road crashes, so there has been a major shift.

I suspect there will be plenty of views as to why this has happened, but for me, it’s taking a multi-faceted approach, focusing and improving on the three Es:

• engineering
• education
• enforcement.

Engineering is broad. It involves safer cars, better emergency equipment and response times and better roads.

Education is about improving risk awareness concerning things like drink- driving and cellphone use.

It still shocks me that alcohol or drugs were a contributing factor in 45% (155) of the 341 fatalities occurring in 2023. In 2022, that number was even worse at 51%. If we can give a good nudge to reducing impaired driving, that will make a real difference.

Enforcement is also important. There’s been a range of reasons the police haven’t been able to deliver as much of that in past years, but they’ve been doing a lot of work recently. I think this has played a part in bringing down the toll.

I was taught the three Es 30 years ago. While there have been different approaches to lowering the toll, particularly as NZTA has gone through various identities, I believe those fundamentals still apply.

I get the sense NZTA is getting back to basics, and the changes to temporary traffic management and a shift to focusing on managing risk and outcomes rather than systems and processes is a good example.

Its new focus on building better roads with the Roads of National and Regional Significance is another good example, and I hope the more resources it reprioritises to focus on those areas, the better for everyone.

Rightly honoured

Congratulations to Nelson’s Merv Solly on the recognition in the New Year Honours, where he was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM).

Merv has been involved in transport, civil construction, quarrying and farming for the past 62 years, taking over the small family firm and turning it into a national business.

I had the pleasure of visiting Nelson last year for an industry meeting, and Merv very kindly hosted my colleague, Lindsay Calvi-Freeman, showing him around Sollys’ extensive operations, which was very useful and much appreciated.

I am genuinely grateful for the industry leadership and commitment that Merv has shown and passed on to others.