Billboards target west coast fun seekers

By BRIDGET CARTER

A surfer, an MP and a mountain-biker are out on Auckland's west coast roads, reminding people to drive carefully.

The three - and others - feature on billboards placed before the worst 12 bends on roads to beaches such as Piha and Muriwai.

With them are slogans telling motorists to slow down, buckle up and "if you booze, you lose".

The billboards went up on New Year's Eve as part of a campaign driven by Waitakere City Council road safety co-ordinator Kitch Cuthbert.

She said some terrible accidents had occurred on the narrow, winding routes out to the western beaches.

Billboards were first introduced for the Waitakere area two years ago to slow people down, and speeds had reduced by 15km/h in some places.

But Ms Cuthbert said it was time for a change.

The latest boards had eight different pictures and slogans directly targeting the types of road users - trampers, surfers and bikers - who ventured out to the rugged west coast for their recreation.

The slogans talk about being safe in the "playground" and "staying on the tracks".

One board features Conservation Minister Chris Carter tramping.