New road barriers saving lives
As winter approaches authorities are urging motorists to slow down and take extra care on roads, including the Brynderwyn Hills, where new flexible safety barriers are already being credited with avoiding more than 20 serious accidents.
Northland Regional Council member John Bain says the flexible barriers were installed as part of a long running and now largely completed $18 million upgrade of State Highway One on the north side of the Brynderwyn Hills.
Bain says collectively head on crashes and those where vehicles run off the road account for about three quarters of all crashes on rural state highways.
Flexible barriers physically separate opposing traffic flows and are designed to ‘catch’ vehicles which hit them.
Since the barriers’ installation, there have already been at least 20 incidents reported to police, although authorities suspect the true number was even higher.
‘‘I appreciate the delays caused by this work have been frustrating at times for motorists over the past couple of years, but the highway is greatly improved – and much safer – for it.’’
Northland Road Policing Manager Inspector Wayne Ewers says police continue to urge motorists to watch their speed and drive to the conditions especially during winter.