Driver error behind most Bay crashes

Police investigate the scene of a man carrying a samurai sword at Tauranga Hospital. Screwdriver stabbing. BOP 26May10 - DRAMA: Police arrested a man at Tauranga Hospital yesterday. P

The majority of serious crashes in the Bay of Plenty are due to driver error, according to a newly-released report.

Excessive speed, alcohol, falling asleep and crossing the centre line were common causes found when 165 separate road crashes were investigated by a Bay of Plenty District Health Board (BOPDHB) Trauma Service report.

Nine crashes were also attributed to medical conditions in the report which looked into the region's serious crashes of 2013. Serious crashes were defined as those which resulted in a hospital stay of greater than 24 hours for the injured, said report author BOPDHB Trauma Nurse Specialist Katrina O'Leary.

"Although deaths from road crashes are trending down internationally, they remain a major public health and community burden, with most occurring from preventable causes," she said.

The report also revealed that serious crashes occurred mostly on rural roads, with 77 of the 165 accidents taking place there. Tauranga was the next most common centre, with 33 crashes, and the most common accident time was between 12 midday and 6pm. The report found a low incidence of crashes in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

Bay of Plenty Police Prevention Manager Inspector Scott Fraser said many road traffic accidents were preventable.

"It's pleasing that the numbers of deaths from road crashes are declining; in fact Bay of Plenty District recorded its lowest annual road toll ever. However we remain the second highest district for road fatalities in the country and we share the concerns of our health colleagues that most of the common causes of road trauma are preventable.

"Our staff witness first-hand the tragedy and trauma caused by crashes and have the unenviable task of telling families their loved ones are not coming home. Road safety remains a priority for Police and we will continue to work tirelessly along with other partner agencies to reduce death and trauma and to encourage all motorists to put safety first."