Editorial: Kaimai fixes overdue

Sergeant Wayne Hunter talks about driving behaviour on the Kaimai Range road. Photo/John Borren

I hate driving over the Kaimais.

The road is narrow, steep and winding and when combined with poor weather and stupid drivers, makes for a potentially deadly trip.

I've driven on this notorious stretch of state highway countless times.

Each time I am uncomfortable as I witness impatient idiots speeding, tailgating, not paying attention and overtaking dangerously, putting lives at risk.

I worry every time. And with good reason - too many people die on this road.

Last weekend's tragedy in which 17-year-old Jasmine Clothier lost her life is the latest in a long, sad line of Kaimai crashes over the years. The cause of this crash has yet to be determined and I am not suggesting driver error is a factor.

But whatever the cause, it's such a waste. I find it impossible to accept when it's children. One of those children is 8-year-old Jasnoor Kaur, who died in May.

Now, as reported on the front page yesterday, her mother Rajwinder wants authorities to lower the Kaimais speed limit and fix some of the sharp corners in an effort to stop others dying.

Seven out of 10 Kaimai Range crashes happen in wet weather and 40 per cent caused by motorists driving too fast for the conditions.

There have been six fatal crashes since the start of 2013.

Some people will argue it is drivers, not the road, who are to blame. But sometimes steps have to be taken to protect people from themselves, and others.

There is a glimmer of hope. The New Zealand Transport Agency is looking at 22 weather-activated electronic variable speed limit signs and four web cameras for the area.

The signs would be activated during bad weather and enforceable by police.

The authority hopes to start trialling the signs later this year. It needs to move quickly.

These measures are welcome and should go a long way to improving safety - but they do not go far enough.

The speed limit should be permanently reduced to 80km/h over the whole hill and double yellow lines introduced to prohibit anyone crossing the centreline to overtake. Would median barriers work over the steepest parts?

A blanket 4 km/h speeding tolerance should be introduced over the Kaimais year-round.

The same measures are needed on SH2 between Tauranga and Katikati. Time to get tougher. Too many lives are being lost.