New safety signs on Kaimai route
The New Zealand Transport Agency has rolled out a new road safety campaign to reduce crashes on State Highway 29 over the Kaimai Ranges.
New signs with a ‘‘ just the facts’’ objective have been erected along State Highway 29 to replace the ‘‘lifesaver’’ campaign signs.
Agency Bay of Plenty state highways manager Brett Gliddon said the new campaign will have a localised and site-specific flavour.
‘‘Rather than carrying a general road safety message, the signs feature facts pertinent to the region and the specific road they are sited on.
‘‘ We’re hoping
this approach will resonate with drivers and help them make safe choices on our roads,’’ he said.
The other signs carry the following messages: Concentrate, Wandering minds cause crashes, Too fast down this hill can kill, Reduce speed in wet conditions, Reduce speed and stay in control.
The signs’ messages have come as a result of research into the crash statistics of SH29 between Tauriko and the base of the Kaimai Ranges.
Each sign has a back-story built around what that research has revealed.
These back- stories, on pamphlets, will be handed out by patrolling police when motorists are stopped along the highway.
Devcich Advertising and Opus have worked collaboratively on the concept and research.
This work forms part of NZTA’s Safer Journeys strategy which takes on the world-leading Safe Systems approach focusing on four key areas to minimising serious harm and death on our roads.
‘‘These areas include making our roads and roadsides safer, implementing safer speeds, encouraging motorists to properly maintain or buy safer cars to help protect them in a crash and lastly, it focuses on safer road user behaviours – ensuring anyone on the road has the skill and knowledge to travel safely.’’