Crash rate fuels safety call
The human and social cost from the rise in serious and fatal crashes on the highway between Richmond to Motueka is too high, says Tasman district mayor Richard Kempthorne.
He is urging concerned members of the public to share their views on how to make the increasingly busy stretch of State Highway 60 safer.
Kempthorne’s call came after a meeting on Thursday involving representatives from Tasman District Council, Nelson MP Dr Nick Smith’s office, police and the New Zealand Transport Agency to discuss their concerns about road safety in Tasman district.
The meeting followed a call last week by Smith for a safety review of the highway and its feeder roads after a spate of fatalities and serious-injury crashes.
‘‘The fundamental problem is growing traffic from increased population, exports and tourists,’’ Smith said, adding that the volume of traffic between Richmond and Motueka had doubled over the past 20 years.
‘‘We need to review the number of lanes, intersection designs, speed limits and other measures to get on top of a serious road safety problem.’’
Kempthorne said since 2015, there had been seven deaths, 12 serious-injury crashes and 45 minor-injury crashes on the stretch of road from Three Brothers Corner at Richmond to Motueka.
‘‘All agencies understand the issues of safety on the roads in our district and are particularly con- cerned about the rise in fatal and serious crashes that have happened this summer on State Highway 60,’’ the mayor said. ‘‘The human and social cost is simply too high.’’
Everyone involved was committed to finding and applying workable solutions, which might include a review of the speed limit and increased enforcement for people under the influence of substances, using cellphones and/ or not wearing seat belts while driving.
‘‘We will also look at increasing demerit points for these offences and encourage active policing on this stretch of road,’’ Kempthorne said.
In the longer term, changes to intersection design along with turning and merging lanes would also be considered.
‘‘It’s not going to be a quick fix,’’ the mayor said, adding that even if NZTA prioritised a review of the speed limit, it could still take a few months. ‘‘Hopefully, this meeting will help us to have it elevated.’’
He urged members of the public to make a submission to the council’s Regional Land Transport Plan. ‘‘Your message needs to be loud and clear to support us making our roads safer for everyone,’’ Kempthorne said.
Submissions can be made at tasman.govt.nz/feedback before February 23.