Letters to the editor: Bay recording worse road toll in NZ a 'sad statistic'

Police at the scene of an accident. Photo / NZME

What a sad statistic with the Bay of Plenty having the worse road toll in New Zealand, as reported (News, July 26) with 28 deaths on our roads so far this year.

I would assume that road and highway safety improvements are assisting, in keeping what is an unacceptable level of deaths down, but obviously not with the success that they initially believed. Therefore, if safety improvements, such as barriers and reducing the speed limit, are not working, a better and wider road has to be the answer.

And this is the problem as this government has cancelled many planned roading upgrades, other than stage one of the Northern Arterial route, with major upgrades such as access into and out of Omokoroa now not proceeding and one must ask at what potential future cost?

The emphasis on public transport, pedestrian and cycleways will no doubt proceed but must not be at the cost of safe roads which deliver consumer goods throughout the country and people to work and students to schools.

Mike Baker
Bethlehem

Won't be taking the bus yet

Megan Wilson's Monday's editorial (Opinion, July 26) needs to be challenged and bought into perspective.

Wilson has expounded how better off she used to be living in cities that have developed transport services and how we all need to follow her lead and rid ourselves of using our car.

Having given thought to how I could have managed a task I had to use my car for at the weekend I am sorry to say that I won't be joining Wilson on the bus yet.

A quick comparison shows it would have taken two hours return from my home to walk, bus and walk to the Maleme St Transfer Station to dispose of the pruning from one tree.

Whereas I did this by car in 50 minutes return including a stop on the way for some shopping.

The bus option would have been achievable only had the bus driver allowed me to drag on to the bus the large wool sack full of clippings and had I also been able to drag the wool sack for the parts of the journey I would have had to walk.

Grahame Benvie
Matua

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