Crashes increase in Franklin

Franklin’s Road Safety Liaison Group has released the latest six weekly report, which included one fatality, for the period 5 May – 16 June 2009.

The number of overall crashes increased from 81 to 111, of which 19 were serious. As in the last report, rural road serious crashes are still significantly high.

Driver error, distraction, speed and alcohol are the main causes of these crashes. Alcohol-related crashes have increased, and alcohol was linked to the fatality this period.

Franklin District Council Road Safety Coordinator Monique Haines says, “As winter sports socialising increases, we remind drivers to be careful and have a sober driver. Always use your seatbelt. The one fatality in this period was not wearing a seatbelt and was thrown from the vehicle.”

“A common cause of accidents and the cause of one of the crashes this period is driver distraction while reading a text message. Mobile phones and driving don’t mix – a distracted driver is a dangerous driver.”

Another important reminder for our rural district, and the cause of one of this periods serious crashes, is stock on the road. There have been numerous reports of animals on our roads on a regular basis, so drivers must be aware that they could encounter this and care should be taken. It is the owners responsibility to ensure their fences are safe, with prosecution a possibility if stock are on the road.

Waiuku Road, Paerata/Karaka and Glenbrook Road still feature highly for crashes, with the remaining crashes spread through rural areas of Pukekohe, Patumahoe and Tuakau.