Operation Centreline underway

Taupo District Council and South Waikato District Council have today launched a regional road safety campaign “Keep left, lives are on the line” - to remind drivers of the consequences of crossing the centreline.

Mayor Rick Cooper was at the launch with a group of local kids with signs and bright campaign t-shirts, trying to get across the importance of this road safety message and highlighting key statistics and contributing factors that cause drivers to cross the centreline.

“It’s a statistical fact that 51% of road crashes occur when drivers cross the centreline – it is just too risky, there are lives on the line,” said the Taupo Mayor pointing to the young ones in the audience.

“It’s a strong message which may shock some people, but we need to get it out there,” he said.

The creative campaign with the byline ‘Keep left, lives are on the line,’ emphasizes the risk for drivers if they cross the centreline. It will run throughout October and includes billboards, signage around town and newspaper and radio advertising.

“Drivers get too complacent on our rural roads with possible fatal consequences,” said Mayor of the South Waikato District, Neil Sinclair.

Taupo District Council’s regional roading representative Councillor Andrew Welch said the objective of this road safety campaign was to make drivers aware of the contributing factors. “There are a number of reasons why drivers cross that thin white line and this campaign is about making drivers aware of these,” he said.

Councillor Welch thanked Environment Waikato and the NZ Transport Agency for their financial support with the campaign and congratulated key agencies involved including Taupo District Council, South Waikato District Council and the Police.