Crashes spark plea from police

A woman struck by a van in Te Puke last week added to a dark week on Bay roads. Photo / John Borren

A top traffic police officer fears the Western Bay may regain its reputation as the "least safest" place to drive, after a bleak week of death and injury.

One person died and at least six others suffered serious or critical injuries last week.

Senior Sergeant Ian Campion, the head of road policing, is urging motorists to exercise care, control and concentration.

"It's fair to say last week was a particularly bad week and it now leaves us with 10 deaths on Western Bay roads this year, compared to six for the same period last year, and a number of people in hospital with serious to critical injuries.

"To be honest, police are struggling," he said.

Such crashes and deaths were preventable, Mr Campion said.

"Enough is enough. People need to focus on what they are doing and drive far more safely.

"It's not acceptable to have this many deaths on Western Bay roads, nor is acceptable to have so many serious-injury crashes. If you go back over 15 years, we had a reputation for being the least safest place to drive in the country and we are starting to get back to having that mantle again. It's got to stop."

Mr Campion said speed and distractions were two major factors in road crashes. Distractions came in many forms, and included drivers using mobile phones, and drinking or eating food, he said.

He urged drivers to take extreme care, reduce their speed, drive to the conditions, watch following distances, and concentrate solely on their driving. "My question to all motorists is: Who is going to be next to receive a knock on the door from police at 2am in the morning?

"Tauranga is a fantastic place to live - let's make sure our roads are also the safest places to drive."

Last week's crashes

April 21: Ian Robert McKenzie, 75, dies after being hit by a car on Old Coach Rd

April 21: A 29-year-old Tauranga woman suffers critical injuries after a van hit her as she hitch-hikes in Te Puke

April 22: A 31-year-old man is struck by a car as he crosses the road on Takitimu Drive near 15th Ave. He remains in a critical condition.

April 26: Elderly driver suffers serious back injuries in two-vehicle crash in Oropi

April 26: The driver of a van sustains serious facial injuries in two-van crash in Gate Pa

April 26: A train hits 48-year-old woman near Ngatai and Western Rds, Otumoetai

April 27: A 33-year-old passenger of a Toyota is in critical condition after he suffers multiple head, chest, torso, pelvic and leg injuries. A 27-year-old man suffers leg injuries and an 18-year-old woman minor head injuries in the same crash

>- Tauranga police