News Release
Tuesday 11 August 2015

Campaign underway to improve Rotorua’s intersection crash record

Rotorua drivers are being targeted in an annual road safety campaign aimed at reducing crashes at intersections. The campaign is a partnership project by Rotorua Lakes Council, Rotorua Police and Road Safety Rotorua

The intersections campaign will continue until the end of September highlighting those intersections in Rotorua with the highest crash risk rates.

Rotorua has six intersections with particularly high crash risk ratings - Tutanekai and Amohau streets; Old Taupo and Malfroy roads; Tarawera roundabout; Ngongotaha roundabout; Whirinaki Valley Rd/SH30; and the Old Taupo Road/SH30 (Hemo Road) intersection which has been identified as the fourth worst intersection in New Zealand for crashes.

Rotorua Lakes Council road safety coordinator, Reade Nikora, says the campaign uses press, radio and social media in tandem with on-location education and enforcement stops by police officers and council road safety staff at some of the intersections.

“Intersections are among the most dangerous places on the New Zealand road network, so it’s essential that drivers are made aware of the high level of risk.

“During the last five years 78 per cent of deaths and serious injuries across Rotorua district were at intersections. This high rate is totally unacceptable, especially when speed and poor decisions play such an alarming role in these statistics.”

Mr Nikora said while the campaign highlights the six local intersections that have been identified as having the highest risk, road users need to be extra vigilant when approaching all intersections, as no-one should pay for a mistake with their life.

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