Stay alert at intersections and make it home safely
Auckland Transport (AT) is encouraging drivers to stay alert at intersections and make it home safely this summer.
Remember to give way or stop
AT’s Walking, Cycling and Safety Manager, Kathryn King, says that, even though some intersections in rural parts of Auckland can be quiet, it’s always essential to give way or stop and make sure it’s safe.
“Safety is the highest concern for Auckland Transport," she says.
"Non-signalised intersections have had a significant increase in the number of crashes since 2013.
“Remember to always be aware of other road users, especially during the summer months when there are more children and holiday traffic on the roads.”
Serious crashes at intersections on the rise
The NZ Transport Agency’s crash data shows that there were 609 death or serious injury (DSI) crashes at non-signalised intersections across the Auckland region between 2011 and 2015.
These crashes caused the deaths of 45 people, and seriously injured 627 more.
There was a 43 per cent increase in the number of DSI crashes between 2013 and 2015. The main factors are not paying attention and failing to give way or stop at intersections.
“Road users need to take greater care at intersections by being patient and checking more than once that it is safe to enter the intersection," says Waitematā District Road Policing Manager Inspector Trevor Beggs.
"If you don’t, you’re risking serious injury or totally avoidable deaths.”