Editorial: Bid for safer road

The speed limit at Rotorua's most dangerous intersection is to be changed from 80km to 70km. Photo/Thinkstock

It's of our most dangerous intersections and thankfully NZ Transport Agency, Rotorua District Council and the Rotorua Police are doing something to try to lower the risk.

The intersection of Hemo and Old Taupo Rds are set to get a major makeover with a speed reduction expected to take place sometime this week from 80km to 70km.

The agency and council are also looking into the possibility of putting in a roundabout.

The intersection hit the headlines last week after one person was taken to hospital with moderate injuries after a three-car collision.

There have been 31 crashes reported in the past five years and it is ranked fourth on the agency's National High Risk Intersections list.

About 15,000 vehicles travel through the intersection every day, 10 per cent of which are heavy vehicles.

The agency and the Rotorua District Council have been working with Rotorua police since December to lower the speed limit at the intersection.

It can't come soon enough. After last week's incident our Facebook page was flooded with comments from our readers expressing their concerns on how dangerous the intersection is.

While authorities can do things like reducing speed limits and so forth, it still comes down to drivers' attitude.

We are notorious for being impatient and a little arrogant when we get behind the wheel.

We are also too quick to feel like someone is getting one over on us if we get cut off or the driver in front is too slow.

It's no secret these attitudes combined can only lead to trouble and worse, possibly death.

So don't let it get to you if it's taking a little too long to get home, because it's better to be a few minutes late than not return at all.

Drive safe.