As part of a District-wide focus to reduce the number of crashes at stop-controlled intersections Canterbury Police are running a two week campaign with the Waimakariri Road Safety Committee focussing on improving driving behaviour.
Inspector Al Stewart, Canterbury Police Road Policing Manager, says “The issue of driver behaviour at rural intersections is a District-wide issue. Around half of the crashes that Canterbury Police and Serious Crash Unit officers attend each year are at intersections. Many of these are caused when a driver is distracted, fatigued, under the influence of alcohol/drugs or driving too fast. Canterbury roads are as safe as those using them and we want all road users to reach their destination safely. This is one of the reasons why we partner with Road Safety Committees and other organisations across the District to target poor driver behaviour.”
Nearly 40% of crashes occur at intersections in the Waimakariri area of Canterbury and in the first week of this annual campaign Police have issued 81 infringement notices to motorists for failing to stop at stop signs.
“We are very disappointed that motorists still appear to have trouble stopping at stop sign controlled intersections. It is amazing that drivers still think they can drive past a stop sign if they slow down or believe the way is clear. This is not the case and ‘stop’ does actually mean ‘come to a complete stop’. Worryingly three disqualified drivers were amongst those who failed to stop at stop signs” explained Canterbury Police Strategic Traffic Unit Supervisor in North Canterbury, Sergeant Rene Pabst.
One driver was issued a notice for a red traffic light infringement on Smith Street over the motorway. Two other drivers turning right from Williams Street, at the Pineacres corner, to head north were issued an infringement notice for entering a lane unavailable to them.
Sergeant Pabst said “A vehicle was seen driving through the stop sign controlled intersection of Johns Road and Plasketts Road on the 22 May 2015 at about 100 kmh. A number of serious and fatal crashes have occurred at this intersection in the past. The driver, who claimed she did not see the stop signs, has been summonsed to appear in Christchurch District Court charged with careless use of a motor vehicle.”
The photograph attached to this release shows the intersection of Johns Road and Plasketts Road looking west.
While the annual campaign with the Waimakariri Road Safety Committee finishes on 31 May 2015 Canterbury Police will continue to target intersections across the District throughout the year.
“In the last 12 months alone Canterbury Police have increased intersection enforcement by 25% overall and we will continue to focus on intersections throughout the District until we see a marked improvement in driver behaviour” said Inspector Stewart.
ENDS
Issued by: Lisa-Marie Brooks, District Communications Manager, Canterbury Police District. Mobile: 021 942 404
