Spike in Waikato bad-driver calls

Auckland Anniversary weekend motorists were calling out bad drivers on Waikato roads at double the rate of a normal weekend.

In the 24 hours from 7am on Saturday to 7am on Sunday, Waikato police received more than 100 calls from motorists reporting poor and dangerous driving on the region’s roads, Waikato police Senior Sergeant Phil Ruddell said.

Police responded to a total of 138 driving complaints – 116 of them on rural roads stretching from Mercer and the Coromandel down to the King Country.

A further 22 came from within Hamilton city boundaries overnight. That was more than double the 68 driving complaints police received over the same period the weekend before, Ruddell said.

‘‘It’s a holiday weekend, so there is increased traffic flow, but also more bad drivers on the road, and more vigilant drivers on the road calling us.’’

Most people were calling *555, Ruddell said, which should be used to report non-urgent cases of dangerous or erratic driving.

Complaints included speeding, including speedsters towing a boat and trailer, and drivers weaving in and out of lanes, crossing centre lines and driving erratically.

‘‘Some of this poor driving was a result of the poor actions by drivers, like driving while intoxicated or being distracted while using cellphones.

‘‘Others have been as a result of poor skills by inexperienced drivers or not checking roadworthiness of vehicles before undertaking a journey.’’

Others made the wrong call, deciding to continue while tired, thinking ‘‘it’s just a bit further to my destination’’, Ruddell said.

Those found driving while suspended were arrested while other drivers were disqualified.

In some instances, officers managed to catch up with drivers behind the wheel who were clearly drunk.

Tickets were issued and advice given, he said.

‘‘All of these people placed themselves, their passengers and other road users at risk – risks that were avoidable and unacceptable.’’

In the same 24 hours, there were 19 crashes on the region’s roads.

Among the most serious was a collision between two cars on State Highway 29 at Te Poi at 10.30pm on Saturday.

A 46-year-old Canadian woman, a passenger in one of the cars, was taken to hospital in a serious condition. The drivers of both cars were also hospitalised with moderate injuries.

‘‘It is fortunate that most of these crashes resulted in no injuries or minor injuries. Had people been travelling a little bit faster, the results may have been far different.’’

Every kilometre per hour faster you drive, the more risk of death or serious injury, Ruddell said.

‘‘Consider what your family would go through if police knocked on the door with news of a crash.

‘‘We want all drivers to drive to their ability and conditions and take regular breaks during those journeys.’’

Those vigilant motorists calling to report bad driving could potentially have saved lives, Ruddell said. ‘‘We would rather attend a complaint of this nature than attend a crash.’’

With Waitangi Day approaching, police expect another busy weekend on the roads, especially with the HSBC Sevens in Hamilton.

He encouraged motorists to keep the calls coming.