Editorial: All for higher truck charge

Transport Minister Simon Bridges said was considering an increase of the Road User Charge on State Highway 2. Photo / NZME.

As someone who regularly makes the drive from Auckland to Tauranga and back, I would support charging trucks more to make the trip via State Highway 2 rather than heading over the Kaimai Range.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges told the Bay of Plenty Times he was considering an increase of the Road User Charge on State Highway 2 and a decrease on State Highway 29.

The drive from Tauranga through Katikati, Waihi, Paeroa and Ngatea is a scenic one - especially the journey through the Karangahake Gorge.

It can also be a perilous trip.

The frustration caused by being stuck behind a slow moving truck navigating its way around the gorge's many bends, and the lack of passing lanes along some parts of the trip, can cause motorists to drive unsafely.

Every time I make the trip I see at least one extremely dangerous passing manoeuvre that makes me shake my head and breathe a sigh of relief when all parties make it out alive.

I refrain from risky passing manoeuvres but would be lying if I said I had never been angered by being stuck behind slow trucks, which add another half hour to the journey.

The route over the Kaimai Range comes with the same challenges.

Any effort to encourage trucks to stick to one route over the other would surely help the situation.

Many motorists who now favour the State Highway 29 route would be likely to choose instead to take State Highway 2 if they knew there would be fewer trucks.

It would remove one of the factors which contributes to dangerous driving and make the trip more pleasant for all.

It could also be a short-term solution for Katikati residents who are constantly frustrated by the number of trucks which roar through the little community, putting the lives of pedestrians in danger.

Any change in road user charges should not have any bearing on the timing and future of the planned Tauranga Northern Link (a road which would bypass Katikati).

It will make the trip safer for motorists but is likely to increase the number of cars using the route - even more reason for the Northern Link.