Six crashes in 24 hours

Six avoidable crashes in the space of 24-hours have left Tauranga Police scratching their heads as to why people continue to risk their lives.

Western Bay of Plenty road policing manager Senior Sergeant Ian Campion says the message is a straightforward one - slow down and take the necessary care when driving.


A pedestrian suffered minor injuries when a car mounted a curb and hit a rubbish bin yesterday.

'I know I sound like a broken record, but it's very simple,” he says. 'Concentrate on what you're doing. Take care and be courteous.”

He says the six crashes are nothing but disappointing.

'It started at 11am yesterday with a car versus scooter crash on the corner of Mansels and Pooles Road. The car driver failed to give way.

'The second crash was at 1.22pm on Takitimu Road, near The Lakes. It was a single vehicle crash driven by a 19-year-old man, with two passengers, who lost control at the roundabout and crashed into the Armco barrier.”

At 2.55pm there was a crash at the intersection of Cameron Road and 4th Ave.

Ian says a vehicle mounted the footpath and struck a rubbish bin.

'During that process a pedestrian sustained minor injuries. Police are still looking into the matter.”

At 4.41pm, at State Highway 29 and Poike Road, a driver failed to give way and crashed with another vehicle.

Then at 5.40pm, at State Highway 2, Te Puna, there was a nose to tail crash. The driver was a restricted licence holder carrying passengers.

Finally, at 9.13pm, there was a nose to tail crash on Maunganui Road.

'The driver has driven off and our enquiries are continuing,” says Ian. 'We have a vehicle registration and a distinctive description of the driver.

'Enquiries will continue and the driver will be spoken with. If he would like to come forward, that may help expedite matters.”

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26 comments

Could it be...

Posted on 14-01-2015 11:47 | By mutley

that drivers are concentrating so much on the speed limit, the confusing "zero" tolerance and looking out for enforcement officers that they simply are not driving any better ?


Brain Dead Policing

Posted on 14-01-2015 12:48 | By Mike Kuipers von Lande

This story simply highlights the brain dead attitude of road policing. They believe if they target people doing 1-5 Km/hr over the limit all will be well. None of the crashes in this story were due to speed - even the crash at the roundabout was probably under 50km/hr. Recently I saw 2 Police engaged in a speed trap at rush hour at the top of Matapihi Road by the Bayfair roundabout, a section where speed is rarely if ever a problem. Literally 50 metres over their left shoulders, dozens of drivers were doing the illegal left lane right turn out of Girven Road endangering all traffic turning into and out of Matapihi Road. This activity causes a huge number of crashes at the Bayfair roundabout each year, but hey, a speed trap brings in the revenue eh?


Funding issues?

Posted on 14-01-2015 13:10 | By Kiwis

Does it come down to lack of funding for our Police department, hence they are forced to focus on revenue generating areas to keep to budgets etc. It does seem the focus is in the completely wrong area. We need to be educating our drivers; why not infomercial type adverts that teach people how to drive - a minute clip in an ad break teaching the likes of the new give way rule (which I know still confuses a lot of people), and other tips. I would also like to see that stats as to the nationality of those that cause the accidents - our foreign drivers definitely need educating and shouldn't be able to "buy" a license when they have no understanding of basic English, let along being able to read road signs etc.


No title

Posted on 14-01-2015 13:17 | By JayR

the best the police can say is they are disappointed like they're our daddy or something? Accidents happen, cheif.


be courteous

Posted on 14-01-2015 13:19 | By spikeredmires

I'd forgotten that word!I came over from the UK some 8 years and I love it here and would never go back. Very few drivers here are courteous, would never let you out, peep their horns if you dare get in their way and for some reason have this in built drive to be in front, merging like as zip is a race the death "who dares wins",to nearly hitting someone, pulling out in front of you and pretending they didn't notice you waving your fist. A great number of drivers are not safety aware.I was in China last year and their driving is crazy and dangerous but they are safety aware in a funny sort of way because I never saw an accident.Unfortunately the culture here is to let the bad drivers(parents)pass on all the bad habits that were past on by their parents so it goes on.


Safer roads

Posted on 14-01-2015 13:20 | By JayR

If we want safer roads, how about we subsidise driver training and licensing


why

Posted on 14-01-2015 13:26 | By NZgirl

Oh why when its a young drive you put the age but when its a OAP they don't. Bet more old people (65+) have crashes in town than young ones.


.

Posted on 14-01-2015 13:26 | By whatsinaname

all these crashes say one thng..Failng to concentrate............and its GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH SPEED AS MUTLEY SAYS. its not concentrating and watching where you going and not obeying the road rules. dont surprise me the one on pooles rd/mansels road.. no one gives way there.......


simple

Posted on 14-01-2015 13:57 | By rosscoo

leave your car at home take the bus safer, friendlier and most of us bus drivers are courteous to other traffic on the road. and we don't take risks. This time of year you can have a couple of beers ride bus home safely know worries of D.I.C.


avr

Posted on 14-01-2015 14:04 | By Anton

I agree with spikerdemires,no one learns to drive properly.Drivers licenses are available with a box of weet-bix.I learn to drive in Holland 50 years ago,it was much harder at that time then it is now here.You have to go to a drivingschool and drive for atleast 35 hours,drive on the motorway.A few minor mistakes and you fail.The police force has to take most of the blame they handout the licenses to people who can,t drive. Speed is not the main course of accidentsHardly anyone knows when to give way or has the right of way.most think to me that it is a matter of politeness.When I came to N.Z driving was about the same as commiting suicide.


The KIWI way

Posted on 14-01-2015 14:33 | By Theway

Get out of the way, I'm coming though! No consideration for any other road user. Like spikeredmires said, kiwis cant drive for crap.


FULL MARKS

Posted on 14-01-2015 14:35 | By Watchdog

to our Police for their constant monitoring of our roads. When I drive along Cameron Road from Aquinas College all the way through to 2nd Avenue I always come across 2 Police cars operating. It at least helps us to keep our speed constant. What annoys me I have seen 3 drivers using their Cellphones whilst driving and whilst manoeuvering as well in traffic. I am happy to say I have reported all of them and hope they get a stiff warning. Inattentiveness is largely what causes accidents. It is an act of the will to use a phone whilst driving. With me around I hope it will not be worth trying. I'll surely dob you in if I see you.


Crashes due to inattention, while eye's glued to the speedo?

Posted on 14-01-2015 15:31 | By The Commentor

The majority of those crashes appear to be caused by inattention, while the sole Police focus at the moment seems to be brainwashing people into staring at their speedometer for fear of a fine for the tiniest speed infraction. No surprises there, but of course the Police won't be making the link. Somehow they will make it just anohter excuse to push the zero tolerance for speed nonsense.


blame?????

Posted on 14-01-2015 16:18 | By rotovend

How about bad drivers take responsibility for their bad driving. Tauranga drivers are worse than some thats for sure. My answer is to make defensive driving and advanced road skills part of the standard needed to get a license. Also we need to re-test older folks more as I know they think they will lose their independence without their car but thats just not true. I do wish people would stop blaming police for their own lack of driving skills and manners.


hey rosscoo

Posted on 14-01-2015 17:14 | By s83cruiser

You obviously don't drive those big yellow busses with no side mirrors on them then if you are a courteous bus driver. The guys that drive those busses are just bullies on the road that pull out at any old time doesn't mater who or what may be along side them. Worst drivers in TGA IMHO not a lot of room for a car with a work trailer on a yellow peril bus and on coming traffic on Chadwick road when the yellow peril bus decides to just pull out regardless of what is coming....Ignorant is a term that comes to mind...Well a PRINTABLE term that comes to mind.


Wisechief

Posted on 14-01-2015 19:14 | By Wise Chief

Not to worry fellow humans for first of new types of lightweight solar electric flying cars and other novel easy to fly near crash proof hybrid personal craft like Martin Jet packs are currently being refined in by major corporations for mass production. Thank God for what are to be low cost safe and easy to fly vertical takeoff and landing craft upon which to get-about. These new craft/cars/bikes/trikes will in the long run bring an end to all the carnage having been caused for over a century by wheeled transport systems. Any improvement over the current heavy metal noxious emissions planet killing death dealing crippling wheeled killers is a blessing and has my full support & I certainly hope YOURS TOO?


Maybe its

Posted on 14-01-2015 19:35 | By Dr Phil

Easy to blame everyone and everything else rather than take responsibility for your crap driving skills: The speed limit is the MAX speed, NOT a Target,I can drive at the limit without gluing my eyes to the speedo, so stop the excuses. spikeredmires - you are Spot On, If cars had no Indicators people would moan and whine, Funnily enough they all have them fitted, but only about 2% of drivers use them correctly if they bother at all - Courtesy My A**E, Its all Me Me Me, to hell with the rest of you, until that attitude changes we are stuck with this crappy situation


Tolerance

Posted on 15-01-2015 04:45 | By MichaelAngelo

The answer is very obvious that the weather has been very hot and many people have had difficulty concentrating. Yes it is bad driving but nothing is to be gained by others feeling superior or the Police pretending that accidents happen because we are naughty children not obeying the rules! There are multiple human factors and we all need to do what we can to keep each other safe particularly when conditions are difficult.


Speed Limit

Posted on 15-01-2015 08:12 | By philiphallen

What I would like to know is…… what is confusing about the message not to speed and break the speed limit? The limit as indicated for a stretch of road by the obvious large sign on top of a tall post with a number on it, this is the maximum speed limit, not 1 km/h or 4 km/h or even 10 km/h over that limit. In other words 60 means 60 and 100 means 100. If you are confused by this obvious logic then please return you driver's license to the relevant authorities, or alternatively learn to drive properly and retake your test.


Huh?

Posted on 15-01-2015 08:44 | By Politically Incorrect

How can this possibly be the fault of the Police? I can drive to the speed limits with out mounting kerbs and crashing in to takeaways - if you can't, please head to your nearest Police station and surrender your licence. Accidents happen because of mistakes, bad judgement or sheer lack of skill. The speed factor that concerns Police is the mess at the end of a crash. The message always has been 'speed kills' - as in the difference between hitting a pedestrian at 50km/h vs 55km/h is life or death. Same for car vs car vs bus vs tree. Just a shame the latest advert doesn't explain that - the message there should be 'moronically running out in front of a car without looking affects others'.


seesee

Posted on 15-01-2015 09:09 | By SeeSee

should be zero tolerance at all times, then there is no excuse for speeding what so ever.


licensing

Posted on 15-01-2015 11:16 | By JayR

make license testing as difficult as you want, but if you do, subsidize it so people wont have an excuse to not do it. People aren't keen to pay hundreds of dollars to go from a learner to a full license.


.

Posted on 15-01-2015 14:26 | By maccachic

Its quite scary we share the road with drivers who are incompetent. the number who run red and orange lights is shocking, the ones who cannot work their indictors at roundabouts, inconsiderates who do not allow vehicles to merge, those whos feet can work the go and stop pedals to maintain a safe speed / following distance.


now it is me!

Posted on 16-01-2015 09:37 | By MichaelAngelo

Interesting since making my post I had a minor accident in the heat of the day. I pulled into an angle park well away from anyone and to my surprise an 'idiot” immediately pulled in beside me talking on his cell phone clipping my door as I opened it. Was it my mistake not seeing him pull in beside me on my blind spot? Certainly he was foolish following me in without thinking that I would open my door! I tried to get his attention to discuss the damage to his car but he was too busy talking on his cell phone to have noticed - there was no damage to my door so I thought - oh well…


Need to have a camera in my courier car to catch these Weetbix Boxes Licensed Idiots

Posted on 30-01-2015 09:37 | By Colttany

**Alert to Everyone** Coming from Christchurch to Tauranga to live i'm so disgusted in the driving here. Im now a courier driver here and I have seen the most shocking drivers daily. It seems like most drivers got their license from a WeetBix box??? So many people are on cellphones, following too close and i've found the most annoying and frustrating thing is "NO ONE knows how too 'Give Way at Intersections" I get a lot of people move in & out of lanes not even looking if any cars are actually there before hand. Been here for 9mths and I'm still shocked every day of Tauranga Drivers. Police Officers do need to be in more Mufti cars to get these Weetbix Box licensed drivers off the road before they do seriously injure people including me!!


Yes I agree

Posted on 05-02-2015 08:18 | By Kenworthlogger

Totally agree with you colttany. I drive a Kenworth logger and can totally see why people get killed here. Kiwis drive like pigs. They even overtake me trailer down loaded on blind corners!! The only good thing is if one of them does something stupid in front of me and i end up collecting them i know i will be totally safe and they will end up dead. Its just a matter of time really. No suprises there. My drive cam that i use for my protection is doing overtime!


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