NZTA denies roundabout unsafe claims
THE Road Transport Forum is calling for the design of a new roundabout on State Highway 1 in Kapiti to be reviewed after a second large truck rolled on it this month.
But the NZ Transport Agency says the Otaihanga roundabout complies with trans-Tasman safety standards.
A southbound eight-wheel Mana Transport truck rolled on the roundabout at about 3am yesterday, about a fortnight after a 43-tonne truck and trailer unit rolled in the northbound lane.
Kapiti police said there had been three accidents involving trucks at the roundabout during the past three months.
Senior Sergeant Anita Dixon said in yesterday’s accident the truck’s brakes were slammed on about 25 metres from the roundabout, the wheels locked up and it hit guttering on the roundabout before rolling on its side.
The cause of the accident was unknown, Dixon said, but ‘‘driver fatigue or bad conditions as it had been raining quite heavily prior to the event’’ were possibilities. The truck was towed away at about 8.30am.
When the truck and trailer unit rolled on June 10, police believed speed was a factor.
Road Transport Forum chief executive Ken Shirley said they were getting regular reports from the trucking fraternity, unhappy with the Otaihanga roundabout’s camber and configuration.
‘‘We are not happy about the design criteria used for highway roundabouts. Speed is critical but some roundabouts almost seem to be designed to roll trucks over.
‘‘Otaihanga roundabout is another example of many around the country where it is too tight, creating unnecessary problems and potential hazards,’’ he said.
The forum was urging NZTA to look again at the design criteria used for highway roundabouts.
But NZTA regional performance manager Mark Owen said the roundabout’s design met the agency’s and Austroad guidelines and standards.
‘‘[Video] footage shows the truck appears to have gone straight ahead rather than round the roundabout,’’ Owen said.
The agency had commissioned three independent safety audits, none of which raised any concerns about the camber about, he said.
‘‘Motorists must slow down and give way, irrespective of the speed
of
the
round- limit, this is reflected in the road code . . . we urge motorists to exercise caution and commonsense.
‘‘Despite these crashes, the roundabout has greatly reduced the risk of severe crashes arising from being hit at speed when pulling out of Otaihanga Rd.’’