New Zealand 'Cop Car Karaoke' drives home safety message By News from Elsewhere...

...as found by BBC Monitoring Published duration 19 December 2017

image copyright NZ Police image caption Wellington's mayor is not excused singing duties

Police in New Zealand's capital have teamed up with other emergency services and the city's mayor to drive home a road safety message - through the medium of song.

Wellington Police responded to a challenge from colleagues in Waikato, writing their own lyrics to Jose Feliciano's Feliz Navidad, and filming it in the style of Carpool Karaoke, the Stuff.nz website reports

They roped in the Wellington Free Ambulance service and the Wellington Fire Service to record parts of the song, urging drivers to "please slow your car" over the Christmas period.

A police dog also sent a message for people not to drink and drive, along with Wellington mayor Justin Lester, attired in his ceremonial robes and chain of office.

image copyright NZ Police image caption The canine division urges drivers not to drink before getting behind the wheel

The video racked up over 46,000 views within eight hours after it was posted on the force's Facebook page

According to Stuff, there have been 362 fatalities on New Zealand's roads so far in 2017, "with the busy holiday period still to come". The website says that that's a 10 per cent increase on last year.

New Zealand Herald says that this clip comes just weeks after Wellington Police busted out some moves for Halloween with a video giving advice to parents to "keep their little zombies safe" while trick or treating.

image copyright NZ Police image caption Cops fused Michael Jackson and traditional Maori dance for their Halloween message

Reporting by Alistair Coleman

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