13 September 2001

Hutt City Mayor John Terrris has released figures compiled by the Land Transport Safety Authority, which show that the total number of injury crashes has been reduced by more than 50 per cent over the last ten years.

There were three deaths, 27 serious injuries and 215 minor injuries people on State highways (the responsibility of Transit) and other roads within Hutt City during 2000.

"It is a pity we have to have any casualties on our roads at all, but the steady downward trend over the past ten years, is testament to the cooperative efforts of Hutt City, the LTSA, Police and Transit NZ," said Mayor John Terris.

Annual reported injury crashes on local roads have dropped from 285 in 1991 to 140 in 2000.

The number of cyclist casualties also fell in 2000, to 15, which is also half the number it was ten years ago.

"Council spends $20 million each year on its roading network and, along with improvements in surfacing techniques, materials and street lighting, it is great to see that investment paying off."

"As an example of Council's road safety focus, we recently completed a major programme to replace existing seal with high friction calcined bauxite on the Wainuiomata hill. This has already started to show a dramatic reduction in crashes. Projections indicate we will have less than 10 accidents this year, down from 25 last year."

"The outstanding efforts of our road safety coordinator, Natalie Hazelwood (who, after six years with Hutt City, is leaving to pursue other challenges) and, of course, the valuable enforcement measures provided by the Police have also played a vital role in reducing injury accidents in Hutt City over the past ten years," Mayor Terris said.

The number one source of injuries in Hutt City was intersections, followed by speed, pedestrians, and child passengers. This compares with national statistics, which speed, alcohol, failure to give way and restraints as the four main issues.

ENDS

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