Intersections road safety campaign gets underway this week

Rotorua drivers are being targeted in a new road safety campaign aimed at reducing crashes at intersections. The campaign is a partnership of Rotorua District Council, Rotorua Police and Road Safety Rotorua

The Intersections Campaign runs from Thursday (21 August) until the end of September and highlights those intersections in Rotorua with the highest crash risk rates.

Rotorua has six intersections with high crash risk ratings - Tutanekai and Amohau streets; Amohau and Fenton streets; Western Rd onto State Highway 5; Waiotapu Loop Rd onto SH5; Tauranga Direct Rd and Hamurana Road; and the Old Taupo Road/SH30 (Hemo Road) intersection which has been identified as the fourth worst intersection in New Zealand for crashes.

Rotorua District Council road safety coordinator, Jodie Lawson, says the campaign uses newspapers, radio and social media combined with on-location education and enforcement stops, at some of the intersections, by police officers and council road safety staff.

“The national crash analysis system (CAS) has identified Rotorua as a community at substantial risk in terms of crashes at intersections in our district.

We’ll be talking to drivers in the vicinity of some of the intersections with the worst crash records to increase awareness about the risks that exist in these spots, and to encourage better driving behaviour.”

Mrs Lawson said it is important for drivers to be aware that all intersections bring an element of risk.

“This means road users need to be extra vigilant when approaching any intersection, not just at those identified as having the highest risk.

“When we drive, we share the road with others. Speed and the decisions road users make need to allow for a potential error – whether it is theirs or someone else’s. No-one should have to pay for a mistake with their life."

Information on the six Rotorua intersections with the highest crash rates is available on the council website rdc.govt.nz.

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