The intersection of State Highway 1 and Mangapai Rd may get an activated warning sign. Photo/John Stone
The intersection of State Highway 1 and Mangapai Rd may get an activated warning sign. Photo/John Stone
Six Northland roads are in line for up to $6 million worth of safety improvements.
Associate Minister of Transport Julie Anne Genter announced NZTA will roll out $22.5m worth of safety improvements on rural State Highways across New Zealand, with Northland to get up to $6m of it.
The work will be on roads from Tokatoka to Brynderwyn, and Kaikohe to Dargaville on State Highway 12, Cape Reinga to Awanui and Mangamuka Gorge to Rahiri on SH1, Whangarei to Dargaville on SH14 and SH15 from SH1 to Northport.
The announcement comes after NZTA said last week it would be installing safety barriers on SH1 between Toetoe Rd and Springfield Rd.
NZTA safety and environment director Harry Wilson said the cost per road will depend on the type of improvements used and the cost to install them, but it will be up to $1m for each road.
State Highway 15 from SH1 to the port has been earmarked for some rumble strips as part of the safety improvements. Photo/John Stone
He said the 30 roads in the nationwide programme were identified because they are high risk for drivers due to factors such as the design of the road - narrow, winding, steep sections and curves - the speed limit, hazards on the side of the road, and the number of intersections and driveways.
"These factors can increase the risk of head-on collisions, and run-off-road crashes. Seventy-four per cent of all fatalities occur on open roads with speed limits greater than 70km/h."
All of the Northland locations will get rumble strips, while all but the road to the port will get improved signage.
Barriers will also be installed at high risk locations at both SH1 sites, as well as between Kaikohe and Dargaville, and Whangarei and Dargaville.
Rumble strips - similar to this one will be installed along sections of Northland highways. Photo/Supplied
Ms Genter said rumble strips can reduce crashes by about 25 per cent and fatal run-off-road crashes by up to 42 per cent.
"Despite what many people think, improving road safety is not just about getting people to drive better. It's also about making our roads much safer, so that when people make mistakes lives aren't lost. On too many of our roads a simple error, such as taking a corner too fast or being momentarily distracted, can be fatal."
NZTA will also investigate installing rural intersection activated warning signs at two high-risk intersections - SH1 and Mangapai Rd and SH1 and Shoemaker Rd.
The electronic signs automatically reduce the speed limit on the main road from 100km/h to 60km/h or 70km/h if a vehicle turns on to or out of a side road.
Northland regional transport committee chairman John Bain was pleased to hear the announcement.
Northland regional transport committee chairman John Bain welcomed the announcement. Photo/Michael Cunningham
"Anything we can get that will change the level of road crashes is welcome."
He said the committee had been in discussion with NZTA on each of the roads, for a number of issues.
"We are all determined to improve the quality of road surface and to make the road safe."
At the same time, Mr Bain encouraged all motorists to drive to the conditions.
He said all of the roads included in the plan for improvements, which are main tourist routes, are going to have a tremendous increase in traffic over the Christmas period.
Mr Bain urged people to be careful and cautious and have safety high on their mind - in particular wearing their seatbelts.
Northland road policing manager Wayne Ewers said any move to make roads safer for drivers is good.
He said there are three activated warning systems in Northland already and they are a good system, reducing the number of crashes since they had been operating.
Work will start on the safety improvements in February, and consultation with the community on the activated warning signs will start in March.
There have been 35 deaths on Northland roads so far this year, well above the 27 in 2016 and 22 in 2015.
Crash statistics
NZTA figures show the number of deaths, serious injuries and minor injuries caused by run-off-road and head-on crashes between 2007 and 2016 on the sections of the roads NZTA plans to improve. NZTA said those types of crashes can be prevented by the planned improvements.
SH1-Mangamuka Gorge to Rahiri: 0 deaths, 14 serious injuries, 49 minor injuries SH12-Kaikohe to Dargaville: 7, 39, 100 SH1-Cape Reinga to Awanui: 4, 22, 85 SH14-Whangarei to Dargaville: 9, 25, 81 SH12-Tokatoka to Brynderwyn: 2, 16, 65 SH15-SH1 to Port: 0 deaths, 0 serious injuries, 1 minor injury
The part of SH15 NZTA is looking to upgrade is much shorter in length than the other roads, and so has lower statistics in comparison. While there have been crashes on SH15-SH1 to Port, these have been at intersections which are not included in the statistics, as the planned improvements are not specifically focused on low volume intersections.
