Several people throughout the Waikato try their best to avoid travelling on State Highway 1 in the Atiamuri area following a number of serious crashes.
These crashes have resulted in a range of different injuries and in some cases, death.
Today eight people died in a head-on collision between twovehicles just off SH1 on Ohakuri Rd.
Fiona Mead, a Rotorua resident, is driven by her son along SH1 in Atiamuri once every few weeks when she looks after her grandchildren.
While she trusts the drivers she rides with, she described it as a "bad stretch of road".
A number of right-hand turns were particularly treacherous and you have to be quick because some cars come around corners quickly, she said.
The crash scene where eight people were killed and a boy critically injured. Photo / Ben Fraser
Fellow local, Shontel Van Zyderveld, said she used to use the highway "all the time".
"But since these accidents, I haven't used it once. There has just been so much tragedy on that highway, I'm really not willing to use it at the moment."
