North Canterbury Highway Patrol are warning of the dangers of cutting corners on bends.
Last week over a 2 1/2 day period in the Hundalee area of State Highway 1 north of Cheviot, Highway Patrol officers issued 135 infringement notices to drivers who crossed the centre line when approaching bends. They incur a fine of $150 and twenty demerit points.
Police witnessed numerous near head-on crashes as drivers came around a bend to find another vehicle heading towards them on the wrong side of the road.
"Never assume there is nothing coming the other way," assures Sergeant John Hamilton of the North Canterbury Highway Patrol. "Not only is it a dangerous habit to get into but one day your luck will run out."
Head-on collisions can only happen when one vehicle crosses the centre line. Drivers should always stay on their side of the road unless overtaking and then only when they have at least 100 meters of clear visibility ahead throughout the whole maneuver.
"Often drivers cross the centre line because they enter the bend too fast; others do it because their driving skills are below standard. It's quite a simple message really. Stay on your side of the centre line when approaching a bend."
Photo of motorist cutting a corner on a bend. (Photo on www.police.govt.nz)