State Highway 1 speed reduction considered following deaths between Taupō and Tokoroa

Tuesday, 4 December 2018

Over 20 people have lost their lives along SH1 between Tokoroa and Taupo in the last six years.

A permanent speed reduction along State Highway 1 between Tokoroa and Taupō could be on the cards after more than 20 deaths in the last six years.

Since 2013 there have been over a dozen fatal crashes along the stretch of highway. The most recent took the life of Tokoroa 18-year-old Kingi-Jo Wiremu Vartiainen Veens who died when the car he was driving and a truck and trailer unit collided near Atiamuri in November.

Tokoroa 18-year-old Kingi-Jo Wiremu Vartiainen Veens died when the car he was driving and a truck and trailer unit collided near Atiamuri in November.

New Zealand Transport Agency's (NZTA) Sarah-Lee Crellin said while $2,213,000 has been invested in the last five years building new safety facilities, speed limit reductions could be the next step.

**READ MORE:

Police examine the scene where a car and truck collided in November and burst into flames on SH1 in Atiamuri (file photo).

* Tokoroa family mourn loss of son killed in crash with truck at Atiamuri, Waikato

* Fatal crash closes State Highway 1 near Taupo

* Two dead, two injured in serious crash on SH1 in South Waikato**

'Three short sections of road are expected to be resurfaced this year to improve skid resistance. This is in addition to our normal maintenance work such as renewing the road surface, replacing road markings, pothole repairs and signage cleaning.

'We are also currently investigating further safety improvements along the corridor which will include options such as speed limit reductions and improving rest area facilities.

'Once funding for further phases is confirmed we will be able to share more about this with the community,' she said.

She said the most common crash types were loss of control either on a straight or a curve.

'We are focusing on accelerating the implementation of the Speed Management Guide with a focus on treating the top ten per cent of the network that will result in the greatest reduction in deaths and serious injuries as quickly as possible,' she said.

Senior Sergeant Fane Troy said crashes along the stretch of road continue to happen due to people travelling too quick for the conditions, travelling while fatigued or impaired through alcohol and drugs, or not wearing seatbelts.

'Where we are located, we are two and half to three hours out of Auckland so people start to become fatigued and complacent while they are driving.

'All you need is for one person to make a small mistake through a momentary lapse of concentration where they cross the centre line and it can have catastrophic effects.

'We have had it before where someone has crossed the centre line and we've ended up with four or five deaths from one crash,' he said.

Troy said no one ethnicity, age, or sex were causing the crashes or dying in them.

'Unfortunately we have had from a four month old child to a 70-year-old killed on our roads this year.

'It could be anyone of us who could die because of a silly or momentary lapse of concentration,' he said.

Troy declined to comment on whether NZTA was doing enough to prevent further crashes.

'I just want to see people take responsibility for themselves and drive safely.

'Police keep saying over and over again about the causes of crashes. Obviously the message isn't getting through to people but we are going to keep saying those same messages until it does,' he said.