Truck crash fuels police concerns

A Whangarei man suffered suspected neck injuries when the log truck he was driving crashed off SH1 north of Waiharara on Monday afternoon, fuelling police concerns regarding the speed at which some trucks are being driven on the Aupouri Peninsula.

The truck and trailer, owned by a Ruakaka company, rolled on the western side of the highway, a Houhora Fire Force crew cutting the driver free from his cab. St John paramedics treated him at the scene before delivering him to Kaitaia Hospital.

No other vehicles were involved, but the highway was partially blocked for a time by spilled logs.

The crash happened just hours after Houhora's resident police officer, Senior Constable Tracee Knowler, told the Northland Age that she was becoming increasingly concerned about the on-going complaints she was receiving.

"People are concerned about the speed at which some of these trucks in general are being driven, including through the 50km/h zone at Pukenui, and the manner of driving, such as tail-gating and trailers running off the side of the road in front of following traffic," she said.

She had tried to address the issue via Facebook and other means, without success. After more complaints, especially from roadwork contractors, she contacted all the logging companies that she could identify last week.

"Most of them were receptive, one local company even saying that it would check the trucks' GPS units. They have an internal system where the drivers have fines deducted from their wages if it is found that they have been speeding," she said.

"On the other hand, one of the biggest companies didn't show much interest in their drivers keeping to the speed limits, but were of the opinion it is up to me [the police] to catch them. Apparently we should just put more camera cars and patrol cars on the roads up here - basically a 'catch us if you can' approach."

Senior Constable Knowler commended the companies that were checking their trucks' GPS units, but one of the big issues on the peninsula was the extensive roadworks from Te Kao all the way south, with temporary speed restrictions ranging from 30 to 50km/h.

"Unless all the areas with temporary speed restrictions are loaded into the GPS then the truck can still maintain its open road speed of 90km/h through them without being detected, so they do not give an accurate account of the vehicle's speed," she said.

"Since posting the news/photo of yesterday's crash on the Houhora Facebook page there has been passionate discussion over what/who is to blame, most blaming the condition of the roads but at the same time blaming the roadworks, if that makes sense," she added on Tuesday.

"What amazes me about blaming the roads is that the basic guideline of driving safe, and what we all teach our kids, is to drive to the conditions, so if it's a crap corner or stretch of road then slow down and you won't fall off."