KEY POINTS:
The wheel of chance has gone from television screens to Auckland streets in a bid to improve traffic safety.
The North Shore yesterday became the first region in the country to display a replica of the wheel used in a high-profile NZ Transport Agency intersection safety advertising campaign.
The wheel, spun by a Grim Reaper-figure, can land on minor crash, major crash, near miss, death - and has a small sliver of miracle. "Not that we push that one [the miracle] because, obviously, it's not that realistic," said ACC injury prevention consultant Katrina van der Wende.
The campaign was organised by ACC, Police and North Shore City Council, using the NZ Transport Agency idea.
Its first site was the Sunnybrae and Northcote Rds intersection, one of the Shore's 10 worst intersections for crashes, with a serious injury crash among the 49 to happen there in the five years to 2007.
Ms van der Wende said the wheel was positioned about 60m from the intersection so it would not distract turning motorists.
"We're not looking for people to be seeing the wheel as they're actually needing to assess the intersection."
The campaign will run for a fortnight before moving to Papakura and Franklin.
BLACK SPOTS
Worst intersections on the North Shore for crashes (2003-7):
1. Taharoto Rd/Northcote Rd.
2. Archers Rd/Wairau Rd.
3. Wairau Rd/View Rd.
4. Anzac St/Barrys Point Rd. 5. Tristram Ave/Wairau Rd.
6. Taharoto Rd/Shakespeare Rd.
7. Sunnybrae Rd/Northcote Rd.
8. Waipa St/Verran Rd.
9. Onewa Rd/Lake Rd.
10. Wairau Rd/Diana Dr.
