9 November 2012

Stop means stop!

Intersections with stop signs are the focus of joint road safety activities between Hutt City Council and Lower Hutt police this month.

Council’s road safety coordinator Jan Simmons says drivers who ignore stop signs and fail to come to a complete stop are putting their lives and the lives of others at a terrible risk.

“Last year there were 10 serious injury crashes and 60 minor injury crashes at intersections on local Hutt City roads. In the past five years crashes at intersections have resulted in 53 serious injuries.

“We’ve recently monitored driver behaviour at stop sign-controlled intersections across the city and witnessed a number of drivers failing to stop resulting in dangerous near misses.

“Drivers with sloppy habits roll through stop signs. If they were sitting a restricted driving test they would instantly fail. Our monitoring has shown a ‘fail to stop’ rate of about 20 per cent at a few of our busier intersections, and rates of more than 10 per cent at others.

“Anyone can make a mistake while driving, but when a driver’s everyday habit is to stick to the road rules, there’s far less risk of being involved in a crash.

“Our monitoring shows many Lower Hutt drivers need to remember ‘stop means stop’ and help us improve road safety for everyone on our roads,” she says.

Hutt Valley acting police Area Commander Shane Cotter also says complying with the simple rules at intersections continue to be an issue for Lower Hutt drivers.

“Stop signs mean stop, completely. If you don't comply, and we see you, you will be ticketed.

“Too many people are being injured at intersections in Lower Hutt. This causes so much harm to not only the drivers involved but to their passengers, their wider family and friends,” he says.

The penalty for failing to stop at a stop sign is a $150 fine.

Road safety partners Hutt City Council, NZ Police, ACC, New Zealand Transport Agency, Greater Wellington and neighbouring councils all work together on initiatives to reduce the number of crashes in our city and region.

Safe Hutt Valley is a group of organisations working together to improve safety across the Hutt Valley region.

The organisations involved are Upper Hutt City Council, Hutt City Council, ACC, Regional Public Health, Hutt Valley District Health Board, Āhuru Mōwai o Te Awakairangi (formerly known as the Hutt Valley Family Violence Network) and the police.

The main aims of Safe Hutt Valley are to reduce crime and family violence, improve road safety, reduce harm from alcohol, and prevent injury and suicide.

ENDS

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