Aucklander tossed over red light runner's bonnet calls for action

Friday, 3 August 2018

Twenty-seven red light runners have been ticketed by police outside Auckland's largest secondary school, validating police and public concerns about the problem.

An Auckland woman who was thrown into the air like a rag doll after being hit by a red light runner says more needs to be done to stop the dangerous driver behaviour.

Her comments come as 27 red light runners are ticketed by police in 45 minutes on the first day of a week-long sting outside Rangitoto College on the North Shore.

'People think it's clear and it's okay, but it just takes one child or person to step out and its all over, brain damage, broken limbs or much worse,' Gabrielle McAllister-Lyons told Stuff.

Now 18 years old, McAllister-Lyons was only 9 when she and her 8-year-old cousin, Gemma Loveday were hit by a young man running a red light at a crossing near the same college in 2009.

Gabrielle McAllister-Lyons was only 9 years old when she was thrown into the air like a ragdoll after being hit by a red light runner.

* Mayor orders officials to get Auckland's red light cameras working

* 'Please explain' issued to Auckland Transport over non-functioning red light cameras**

Waitemata road policing manager, Inspector Trevor Beggs, says its July 31 operation validates police's concerns about the number of drivers running red lights near Rangitoto College.

The girls were having a running race to McDonald's for lunch, McAllister-Lyons' grandmother and sister, Cassandra, in tow with the family's dogs, and did not see the car coming.

'My cousin hit the bonnet and rolled into a ditch a split second before I was hit. I went up like a rag doll and hit the windscreen.'

Twenty-seven drivers have been caught running red lights outside Auckland's Rangitoto College.

Miraculously, the incident only left McAllister-Lyons with a scalp haematoma (swelling of clotted blood) and both girls with bruises and grazes.

'It could have been a lot worse as that has happened to other people, but I'm one of the lucky ones who has a hard head,' she said.

A Stuff survey found red light running is endemic in Auckland, with reporters counting more than 250 drivers running completely red lights within 90 minutes at four intersections across the city.

On Tuesday, day one of a week-long operation, police issued the 27 infringement notices, carrying a $150 fine and totalling $4050 at an intersection near the school.

Waitematā road policing manager, Inspector Trevor Beggs, said the operation validated police's concerns about the number of drivers running red lights close to the school.

In the past, Rangitoto College has advocated for an underpass or footbridge to improve student safety.

Auckland Transport and police agree students and their families have a right to feel safe heading to school.

'Students and their families have a right to feel safe when they are heading to school and drivers need to take responsibility for this careless behaviour.'

A member of the public had raised their own concerns with police, prompting them to 'follow this up quickly', Beggs said.

Rangitoto College principal Patrick Gale said the school had been 'long concerned' about dangerous driving on East Coast Rd, just outside the school's gates.

Everyday, morning and afternoon, staff were stationed on duty at the crossing to ensure students' safety, he said.

Gale said in the past, the school had advocated for an underpass or footbridge as part of roading improvement projects.

'The safety of our students is paramount, and we are delighted that the police are taking a proactive role in helping to educate the public about road safety.'

In 2012, police caught more than 400 red and amber light runners outside the school.