Bay road death toll doubles in a year

13 people have tragically perished on Bay of Plenty roads so far this year.

The number of road deaths in 2014 on Western Bay roads has more than doubled compared to the same time last year and police say most of the crashes were avoidable.

Latest figures obtained from the Ministry of Transport show the provisional total road toll in 2013 in the Western Bay area stood at six, and so far this year 13 people have died on local roads.

They included 22-year-old Matapihi father of two Justin Phillip Dickson, who died instantly early on Saturday morning after his Suzuki 650 motorbike hit a 24-tonne digger parked on Matapihi Rd.

Among those killed on Western Bay roads were also three other motorcyclists, two passengers and Shirley O'Connor, 88, of Katikati, who died on November 24 after her mobility scooter hit the side of a passing truck in the main street of the township.

Bay of Plenty road police manager Kevin Taylor said the number of fatal crashes this year was at a disappointing five-year high but most of the crashes were avoidable.

Mr Taylor said lot of the crashes were the result of motorists crossing the centre line, colliding with another vehicle or object, and a significant number happened on State Highway 2.

Also notable was the increase in the number of motorcycle crashes, and most but not all of the crashes were the result of poor driver behaviour, he said.

"Some of these fatalities were tragic accidents but most were completely avoidable, as the people involved were taking risks they shouldn't have been and paid the price."

The risk people exposed themselves to when they rode or drove too fast was phenomenal, especially as motorbikes were so unforgiving when riders came off them, Mr Taylor said.

"Anyone riding a motorcycle who breaks the pretty fundamental safety rules and comes off would pay the ultimate price."

The provisional national road toll for 2014 stands at 272, as at December 8.

That is 36 more deaths than at the same time last year, and the provisional total road toll for 2013 stands at 253.