Rescue chopper pads for Waihi, Whangamata

Waihi and Whangamata residents will benefit from four new rescue helicopter landing pads built as part of a motorcycle safety project lead by the NZ Transport Agency.

The pads are also located at Paeroa and Kopu, along the Southern Coromandel loop.

The loop is the site of Safer Rides Southern Coromandel, a New Zealand first pilot project aimed at reducing the number and severity of motorcycle crashes on that stretch of highway.

The agency's principal safety engineer Michelle Te Wharau said the helicopter landing pads would give emergency service crews greater access to the area, which meant injured riders or others requiring medical assistance would get treatment as quickly as possible.

"Unfortunately, crash data shows that over the past five years (2009-2013) motorcyclists were involved in 42 per cent of the fatal and serious crashes along this stretch of highway, yet they make up only two per cent of the road users."

The Transport Agency worked closely with the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Trust to scope suitable sites which were now formed and clearly marked with a large yellow ''H".

The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter chief pilot, Grant Bremner, and Dave Walley, from the Auckland based Westpac Rescue Helicopter said the landing pads would enable their crews to get to those in need faster, "significantly increases their chances of survival".

All emergency services such as Search and Rescue, the NZ Fire Service and Civil Defence will also be able to use the landing pads.

Mrs Te Wharau said the landing pads were among a series of safety improvements being trialled along the route under the Safer Rides project.

"Along with upgraded signage for curves and wider edge-lines, we have sealed a number of entrances along the route to reduce the amount of gravel and other debris on the road," she said.

"We are trialling different road markings to help guide riders around corners, have resealed or treated the road surface to create a more consistent ride and added guard rails in some areas with a steep drop-off.

"We have also replaced many large concrete drainage pipes with smaller flat and dome shaped covers, which are more forgiving in the event of a crash."

Riders will also notice a series of billboards with tips for ways to cope with the challenges of riding the route.

"Although the new helicopter landing pads are great, hopefully with all the safety improvements and messaging we have made along the route we will have less motorcyclists needing to use them" said Mrs Te Wharau.

The NZ Transport Agency is working in partnership on the Safer Rides project with the Motorcycle Safety Advisory Council, ACC, Thames-Coromandel and Hauraki District Councils, Waikato Regional Council, NZ Police as well as motorcycling user groups.

Successful initiatives from the project will inform other motorcycle safety projects in New Zealand.