Northland motorists tired of 'sucking up' car damage incurred on state highways

Karl Quin from Bay of Islands Auto Marine and Diesel Electrics in Kerikeri, said the biggest problem in Northland was stone chips caused by loose metal on the roads. Photo / Jenny Ling

Beneficiaries who can't afford to get their cars fixed, retired businessmen with busted wheel rims and an entrepreneur who can't see his grandkids because his Auckland-based daughter won't chance another cracked windscreen driving to Northland.

The region's dire roads are affecting motorists from all walks of life in all sorts of ways as they deal with broken windscreens, busted wheel rims and suspension, tyre and wheel alignment problems.

The residents have one thing in common though - they're sick of sucking it up.

Springfield resident Steve Simon sought compensation from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and Fulton Hogan for two cracked windscreens while driving the stretch of SH1 at Otaika near the Loop Rd intersection.

The 100 metre stretch of road - which Simon calls an "atrocious goat track" - is covered in loose stones which flicked up and damaged two of his vehicles earlier this year.

Both incidents happened in the same place; once to his Toyota Hilux which cost $370 and already has another chip in it, and the other to his Toyota MR2, which he hasn't got around to fixing due to money constraints. He expects this to cost around $450.

A newer Hilux has had a couple of recent chips too, he said.

"If you own a vehicle and you drive on SH1 in Northland you're going to end up having to replace something in your car because of the state of the roads. It's par for the course.

"I've been sucking it up and sucking it up but it got to a point I can't keep doing that because of someone else's negligence.

"If they were maintaining the roads properly motorists wouldn't be suffering damage to their cars with such frequency."

Springfield resident Steve Simon sought compensation from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and Fulton Hogan for two cracked windscreens. Photo / Michael Cunningham

The 63-year-old beneficiary who has no car insurance, wrote to Waka Kotahi in February seeking compensation, and his request was passed on to national roading contractor Fulton Hogan.

Fulton Hogan wrote back, refusing to cover the cost.

"The windscreen damage is from an undetermined source, via a truck that is not related to our project," the email said.

"There are many trucks carting materials through our site every day, which are of no relation to our project.

"Loose metal should be a consideration for all motorists as it is a common occurrence everywhere, from a variety of sources. This is the reason for insurance, we recommend you contact your insurance provider."

Simon said the response was "extremely unsatisfactory".

He was compelled to contact the 'Northern Advocate' following our story about Mangonui motorist Richard Schofield who sought $1709.25 compensation from Waka Kotahi for car damage incurred on SH10 in the Far North.

Schofield was also passed onto Fulton Hogan, who offered him $1000 if he signed a confidentiality agreement. Schofield rejected the offer and took the matter to the Disputes Tribunal, which was unsuccessful.

Simon said: "it's the responsibility of Waka Kotahi and its contractors to ensure the roads we drive on are fit for purpose".

"I want them to foot the bill for both windscreens," he said.

"I look after my cars the best I can and the amount of stone damage I've incurred off that road from unswept rocks and stones ... trucks go over them and flick them up like baseballs.

"I'm regularly having to replace suspension components including ball joints.

"Recently I drove to Wellington, and once you get out of Northland into Auckland, roads improve dramatically. When you get through to the Waikato the roads are brilliant. They are magnificent roads.

"Northland roads are by far the worst in the country."

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It's a sentiment that rings true for Whangārei resident Chris Taplin.

The entrepreneur's Auckland-based daughter got a cracked windscreen during a trip north with her two young daughters in April which "caused a lot of grief".

She got the windscreen replaced on her return to Auckland, which meant dropping off her car for half a day and waiting around for the repair to be done.

Two weeks ago, Taplin also had a windscreen replaced from a stone chip off SH1 between Auckland and Whangārei.

His daughter is now "reticent" about visiting during the July school holidays, he said.

"She doesn't want to get on the highway to bring my granddaughters up here because she's scared of what might happen.

"It's the reluctance now of even wanting to come up because of what that might mean."

Though Taplin and his daughter had windscreen cover and didn't have to pay any excess, the inconvenience is "huge", he said.

"Something as small as a chipped windscreen has a ripple effect.

"It's a huge inconvenience, you just don't realise how it might affect your life.

"These small things can turn into big things and there's a lot of grief and expense. It's half a day of my life gone. It's just not good enough to have that highway that we've got."

Schofield is also angry after having four windscreens replaced while living in the Far North.

He said he's dealt with three insurance companies since moving to Mangonui with his wife five years ago.

Windscreens getting chipped because of the poor state of our roads is a common occurrence. Photo / Jenny Ling

You-i wanted higher premiums for Northland and Vero declined to insure them for windscreen repairs or replacement because of the number of claims they'd made. Based on their history, AA Insurance refused to give comprehensive cover which included windscreen repair and replacement, he said.

An AA Insurance spokeswoman said windscreens are covered under its comprehensive insurance for which an excess applies, usually around $500.

AAI customers also have the option of excess-free glass cover, which means they won't have to pay an excess if their claim is only for accidental damage to their windscreen or windows.

"There is no limit on the number of glass claims covered for any insurance period, however, an excess may apply if the additional benefit hasn't been purchased," she said.

Tower Insurance has a similar comprehensive car policy, where windscreens are covered and there is an excess of between $400 and $1000.

Customers can buy the optional benefit 'windscreen and window glass excess buyout' which means they pay no excess.

The Tower spokeswoman said the company "looks at policies that have had three or more claims in one policy year".

"Should a customer be in the unfortunate situation of experiencing three or more claims in one policy year we may decide on a range of steps from doing nothing, to changing benefits or adding an additional excess, but all this would be dependent on the frequency and severity of those claims."

An IAG New Zealand spokesperson said cover for windscreens is included in its comprehensive insurance policies, across all brands which include AMI, NZI and State.

"The majority of our customers have no excess for their windscreen claims.

"This is either provided automatically under their policy or they have selected this as an option.

"If customers don't select this option, or it is not already included in the policy, then the windscreen excess would be the same as the car excess.

"We do not have a claim limit for windscreens or any special conditions or considerations for driving on roads in Northland."

Roads in Northland are notoriously bad. Photo / Jenny Ling