Doctor calls for action on barrier

A third potentially deadly crash has been prevented by the Centennial Highway wire rope median barrier, sparking further calls for it to be extended along the "killer road" north of Wellington.

A truck hit the barrier about 7.30am on Tuesday, stopping it from crossing the median line into the path of two south-bound motorcycles and three cars. The truck demolished three posts along the 700m barrier on the 6km road south of Paekakariki.

Kapiti Coast trauma response chief Chris Lane said yesterday the latest crash demonstrated the need to extend the barrier.

"If the truck had not bounced off the barrier it could have taken out six people. It is inevitable that sooner or later more lives will be lost," Dr Lane said.

"It frightens me to think what is needed to justify an extension of the barrier. It is just sheer luck the incidents have occurred within the area of the barrier so far this year, but it is just a matter of time before someone is killed."

Transit and the Minister of Transport had "completely ignored expert advice and statistics" on the road", Dr Lane said.

He was referring to an inquest report this month by Wellington coroner Gary Evans which found that three fatal head-on crashes on Centennial Highway last year, resulting in seven deaths, could have been prevented if a median barrier had been installed.

Mr Evans called for the median barrier extension, "without delay". The court held "deep concern" that an extension to the barrier was not scheduled until June 2007.

Transit regional manager Graham Taylor said he received a phone call on Tuesday from a south-bound driver who saw the truck hit the barrier and who thanked Transit for saving his life.

Transit would discuss the extension next week. There had always been an option to speed up its installation, at a cost of about $15 million.

- NZPA