As we prepare to kick-off for six weeks of celebration around the country, the AA is reminding everyone to have a game plan in place for getting around safely.

The Rugby World Cup kicking off tonight will be the biggest event New Zealand has ever hosted and obviously have an impact on our roads.

Alongside the big increase in overseas visitors travelling around, there will be a lot of people heading out to enjoy the nightlife during the tournament as well as people getting together to watch games at home.

The AA wants everyone to have a great time and not spoil what should be a month and a half of sport, spectacle and fun by being involved in a crash or charged with a driving offence.

“The coaches and players know their plans before they take the field and we need to do the same on the roads,” says the AA’s General Manager of Motoring Affairs Mike Noon.

“If you’re going out and are going to be drinking, make sure you have a plan for fulltime at the end of the night. That could be arranging a sober driver before you go out, catching a taxi home or organising to stay where you are.”

It is not just drinking that people need to be aware of either. Research has shown that drivers who are tired are also dangerous on the road.

“If you are going to be out late, see if you can sleep there rather than driving. And if you are behind the wheel and start feeling tired, pull over and have a power nap for 15 to 20 minutes.”

Hosts have responsibilities in these areas too. If you are having people around to your place, make sure they don’t drive away drunk or tired. Always serve food with alcohol and check that your guests have a way of getting home safely.

“If you see someone who isn’t in a fit state to drive, see if they can stay where they are or arrange some other way to get home.

“If a player makes a bad choice on the field, they might cost their team the game. If we make a bad choice on the road, we might cost ourselves or someone else their life. It’s just not worth the risk.”

For more information contact

Mike Noon
General Manager: Motoring Affairs
New Zealand Automobile Association
T. (04) 931 9984
M. 021 659 704
Email:  mnoon@aa.co.nz

The New Zealand Automobile Association is an incorporated society with over one million members. It represents the interests of road users who collectively pay over $2 billion in taxes each year through fuels excise, road user charges and GST.