Black-spot highway blitz planned to cut road toll

Road safety agencies have combined to try to reduce the accident rate on a dangerous highway in the Hauraki district.

The 15km stretch of State Highway 27 between Mangatarata and Patetonga, has been identified as a black spot and will be the subject of a progressive action plan, said Waikato road policing manager Inspector Leo Tooman.

The highway was not as dangerous as the notorious State Highway 2, where 35 people died between 2000 and 2005, but still had a "much higher than average" accident rate, Mr Tooman said.

Transit New Zealand, police, Land Transport New Zealand, Hauraki District Council, Environment Waikato and ACC are involved in the campaign. The plan follows a nightmare weekend on the roads when 10 people died in seven accidents.

However police say that 68 fewer people have died compared with this time a year ago.

Mr Tooman said the road toll was coming down, and sustained campaigns like the one planned for State Highway 27 had a big part to play in that.

The campaign is based on the "three Es" - enforcement, education and engineering.

Police will increase enforcement at the site, Transit New Zealand will complete a safety upgrade involving road signs, road markings and road surfacing, while all agencies will contribute to a driver education campaign.

- NZPA