Road to Zero in New Zealand with Electric Scooters
New Zealand has launched a Road to Zero campaign aimed at reducing the number of deaths and serious injuries on the country’s roads. And with e-scooters being the talk of the town today, as it is being introduced to several cities over the past few years, there was a need to explore the relationship between e-scooters and New Zealand’s Road to Zero campaign.
E-scooters have become a popular mode of transportation in New Zealand, particularly in larger cities such as Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. Many rental e-scooter companies have introduced themselves to these cities, just as many premium electric scooter brands for personal ownership have also arrived. One of them is Mearth Electric Scooters, the Pioneer in Australian Electric Scooters, that recently opened a branch in the Land of the Long White Cloud. They all aim to provide a convenient and eco-friendly way for people to travel distances, while giving different varieties with different specs of e-scooters to choose from.
However, as with any new form of transportation like convenient e-scooters, there are safety concerns that need to be addressed. Injuries and accidents involving e-scooters have been reported in New Zealand and around the world. Some of the common causes of e-scooter accidents include speeding, riding on footpaths, not wearing helmets, and riding under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Imagine Aotearoa, New Zealand where everyone can get where they’re going safely. This is the goal, where it’s safe to get to school or work and home again for all, whether you’re walking or riding.
Transport is supposed to be part of what improves our health and wellbeing, letting it create liveable places for our communities. This is the vision for Aotearoa, New Zealand but it’s a work in progress — New Zealand is not there yet but there is a plan: Road to Zero.
Road to Zero was a government campaign launched in 2018. It adopts a world leading approach to road safety that says it’s possible to have no loss of life or serious injury on roads. It sets a target of reducing deaths and serious injuries on our roads by 40% by the year 2030 and to zero by 2050. The campaign focuses on a range of initiatives, including improving road infrastructure, promoting safer driving behaviors, and encouraging the use of safe driving including safer vehicles.
To get there, New Zealand needs everyone’s help, especially residents, citizens and visitors of this isolated island-country. We all have a shared responsibility for keeping people safe on the roads. It’s important we all follow the rules and make safe choices when we travel. But as the New Zealand government says, “we all know people make mistakes, so crashes will still happen. But we can prevent people being killed or seriously injured in these crashes by building a safe transport system that protects people at every turn. As human’s we’re vulnerable in a crash so we need everyone, making safe choices, in safe vehicles, on safe roads and traveling at safe speeds. With a well mapped plan and a shared commitment from all of us, we know we can get there.”
One of the key aspects of the Road to Zero campaign is the promotion of safer forms of transportation, including e-scooters. The campaign recognizes the potential benefits of e-scooters, such as reducing traffic congestion and carbon emissions. However, it also emphasizes the importance of using e-scooters safely and responsibly.
To promote safe e-scooter use, the Road to Zero campaign encourages riders to wear helmets, follow traffic rules, and avoid riding on footpaths. The campaign also promotes the use of dedicated e-scooter lanes where possible, to separate e-scooter riders from other vehicles and pedestrians.
In addition to promoting safe e-scooter use, the Road to Zero campaign also aims to improve road infrastructure to make it safer for all forms of transportation. This includes building dedicated bike and e-scooter lanes, improving pedestrian crossings, and reducing speed limits in high-risk areas.
Road to Zero is a campaign that recognizes the potential benefits of e-scooters while promoting safe and responsible use. By improving road infrastructure and promoting safer transportation options, the campaign hopes to create a safer and more sustainable future for all New Zealanders.