Editorial: Change needed at crash hot spot

Speed limits on local roads have been a hot topic. Photo/Thinkstock

There's a reason I don't like the idea of cycling to the forest with my kids.

It's not too far away, and it would be an easy ride, but you can't really get to the Waipa car park without crossing at the intersection of Hemo and Old Taupo roads.

The intersection has made headlines again this week after one person was injured in a crash there on Tuesday.

Our report prompted several readers to point out how dangerous the intersection is.

Last year, Sergeant Pauline Jones of the Rotorua police told us it was one of the two worst places for crashes in Rotorua.

Earlier last year, we reported it as one of the city's most dangerous blackspots, according to NZTA figures, with three fatal crashes from 2007-2011.

Another report showed there had been 25 collisions there in the same period, more than any other local intersection.

Key causes of accidents there are drivers failing to stop at the stop sign, and failing to give way to oncoming traffic.

I use the intersection a lot, and am amazed at how fast vehicles zoom in from Hemo Rd. I've also been cut off plenty of times by hoons not giving way turning left into Old Taupo Rd.

Speed limits on local roads have also been in the news, and lowering the limit there could be an option, but perhaps a bigger change is needed.

One reader suggestion was to put in a big roundabout, taking in the Te Puia entrance and Mokoia Dr (hat-tip, Greg Vincent).

That sounds like a great idea - it would make it safer and encourage better traffic flow in all directions.

In the meantime, my family will continue to drive the short distance to the forest to ride our bikes.