223 runaway drivers in five years caught in Rotorua

FILE

More than 200 Rotorua drivers have fled from police in the past five years, official figures show.

Data released to the Rotorua Daily Post under the Official Information Act shows 223 Rotorua drivers were issued "fleeing driver notifications" between July 2009 and June last year.

The number of fleeing drivers peaked in 2013 with 58, police records reveal.

Last year 39 Rotorua drivers were issued with fleeing driver notifications.

Bay of Plenty road policing manager Inspector Kevin Taylor said all runaway drivers were of concern.

"There is no particular pattern to the figures, but every fleeing drive incident is dangerous, unpredictable and puts the safety of the public and police staff at risk," he said.

"Invariably the reasons for not stopping are insignificant compared to the risk those drivers expose themselves and other members of the public to by their driving behaviour.

"Often, and particularly for younger drivers, it would be the diminished ability to perceive consequences - under-developed frontal lobe has been well researched and documented."

Many drivers failed to stop because of a simple licence breach or speeding matter, he said.

"In a split second they elevate the situation from an instant fine, to vehicle impoundment and potential arrest.

"In too many cases the consequence is serious injury and, in extreme cases, the tragic loss of life."

Nationally more than 11,000 drivers were caught fleeing police in the past five financial years.

The number of drivers caught each year fluctuated between 2195 in 2009 and 2393 last year.

New Zealand Police Association president Greg O'Connor said fleeing drivers were "a major dilemma".

"Those numbers only include drivers that were caught," he said.

"There's a lot more drivers that have got away who will do it again because they think they can get away with it.

"It's an issue that police forces and governments around the world are grappling with."

Most incidents that ended in a crash happened within 30 or 40 seconds, he said.

Mr O'Connor said there was no right answer for dealing with fleeing drivers.

"The question is, 'Do you have a no-pursuit policy or a very prescriptive one which actually makes roads less safe because you're incentivising drivers to get away from police'?

"It's a matter of trying to get some kind of balance. Generally, I think we've got it pretty well right in New Zealand."