He said road deaths left people with no chance to say goodbye.
“It is sudden, and it is devastating.”
“When someone dies in a motor vehicle crash, they are in your life one minute – sitting at the breakfast table, heading off to work, the gym, or going about their normal day – and the next minute they are gone.”
Fagan said it was the most important thing someone could do when they got into a vehicle, and urged people to talk with loved ones about the risk.
“It takes just two seconds to buckle up, and that simple action can make the difference between life and death.”
“Tell them how much they mean to you and how much they would be missed – because if the worst happens, you don’t get the chance to say it later.
Seatbelts reduced the risk of death by 60% in the front seat and 44% for back seat passengers.
The accidents come after Road Safety Week 2026, where Senior Sergeant Stephanie Hudson said preventable behaviour was driving a worsening road toll.
As of April 27, 11 people had died on Northland’s roads, compared with eight at the same time last year.
Overall, 24 people died on Northland roads last year. In 18 of those cases, a restraint was available, but 12 people chose not to wear one.
Brodie Stone covers crime and emergency for the Northern Advocate. She has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.