Fixing up our intersections

Works are near completion to reduce the number of crashes at Wairarapa's riskiest inter-sections.

Between 2007 and 2011, 17 serious and one fatal crash occurred at Wairarapa inter-sections, New Zealand Transport Agency figures reveal.

Two serious crashes occurred at the State Highway 2 and Renall St intersection and one fatal crash at SH2 and Mikimiki Road. Other serious crashes occurred at Queen and Jackson Streets, Ngaumutawa Road and Upper Manaia Road, and Totara and Titoki Streets intersections.

Wairarapa Road Safety Council spokesman Dave Ryan said roundabout improvements at Renall Street were under way in a bid to reduce crashes at the intersection.

"That's nearing completion now and that was a direct result of that being a high crash area."

The stop sign at the Renall and Pownall Streets intersection was changed to a roundabout to reduce the likelihood of crashes and improve traffic flow, Mr Ryan said. Other upgrades were underway at other local intersections.

As of Friday three people had died on Wairarapa roads this year, up from zero at the same time last year.

NZTA spokesman Andy Knackstedt said the fact that one intersection had more injury crashes than another did not necessarily mean it was "more dangerous".

"It may simply mean that there is a lot more traffic travelling through the intersection, and hence statistically there are likely to be more crashes."

A single serious crash at an intersection could also result in several serious injuries, and that crash may well have been the result of a drunk-driver failing to stop, rather than the intersection's design.

"When we look at safety and crashes we look at all aspects of the 'safe system' - drivers, vehicles, roads and speeds."

The Safer Journeys Action Plan 2013-15 was launched last month, with a goal of a safe road system, increasingly free of death and serious injury.

The plan is a cross-agency initiative and includes a high-risk intersection programme - identifying the country's 100 highest risk intersections and developing solutions for at least 30.

Associate Transport Minister Michael Woodhouse said while the numbers of people killed or injured in crashes had declined by about 20 per cent over the past four years, more needed to be done.

"Our roads are not as safe as they could be and we need to keep working on strengthening all aspects - vehicles, speed, roads and roadsides and road use."

Other plans include a national vehicle fleet programme to retire older, less safe vehicles from New Zealand roads; a speed management programme focusing on appropriate travel speeds for different types of roads; and changes to the blood-alcohol concentration limits for various classes of driver.

Since 2010, the Government has introduced significant changes, including those designed to improve the safety of young drivers and motorcyclists, and reduce the harm caused by high-risk drivers, Mr Woodhouse said.APNZ