Cutting down on black spot crashes

April 20, 2004

North Shore City Council is investigating 91 intersections for safety improvements as part of its new Crash Reduction Programme.

The intersections have been ranked in order of priority based on Land Transport Safety Authority (LTSA) statistics on fatal, serious, minor and non-injury crashes between 1996 and 2002.

Works and environment committee chairperson, Joel Cayford, says safety is the most important consideration for any roading network.

"Already this year more than 130 people have lost their lives on our country's roads. Of these deaths, two have occurred on North Shore City roads. This programme means we'll be spending money where it really counts in our own city.

"That doesn't mean, however, that drivers don't need to take responsibility for their own actions," Councillor Cayford says.

"For us, it's safety first and foremost."

Between 10 and 15 sites will now be analysed in more depth each year in a continuing programme to improve safety at intersections.

The audit team - made up of North Shore City Council roading engineers, LTSA staff and police - have already begun assessing 12 sites on the priority list.

Remedial measures could include anything from traffic signal phase changes to adjustments to the layout of the road.

Intersections targeted include amongst others: Anzac St and Pupuke Rd; Constellation Dr and East Coast Rd; Target Rd and Link Dr; Browns Bay Rd and Beach Rd; Wairau Rd and Diana Dr; and Kitchener Rd and Fenwick Ave.

At the Anzac St and Pupuke Rd intersection there were a total of 52 accidents between 1998 and 2002, seven of which resulted in injuries.

The annual budget for minor traffic safety improvements is $100,000.

Other intersections ranked on the black spot crash list are already being addressed or will be through capital works projects already planned such as the widening of Lake Rd, Esmonde Rd, Glenfield Rd and Onewa Rd.

ENDS

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