Local road safety petition demands reduced speed limit
With an increased traffic volume over the holiday season, road safety has again become an issue on the Bay's narrow and curvy roads.
For the Onekaka and Tukurua area, resident Lisa Williams has started an initiative and petition for a speed limit reduction from 100kph to 70kph in these communities. Though an initiative to get the authorities to set a lower speed limit failed 25 years ago, Lisa is hopeful the new initiative will succeed.
"I started this petition because cars travel too fast through Onekaka, and a lot of people have been talking about it for a long time. We have had too many accidents lately on our corner, and the time has come to do something. We've had great support from people, and already everybody who lives here has signed it, and TDC and the Land Transport Safety Authority are wanting to meet with the Onekaka community soon."
The community is also requesting adequate signage informing drivers of around the community such as ‘kids crossing roads' and a yellow arrow with speed recommendations at the Otere Stream Bridge.
Tukurua resident Peter Blasdale supports the speed limit reduction wholeheartedly. As an active cyclist he laments the absence of safe bike lanes and cannot understand why "when widening the roads, they cannot paint a cycle lane on them."
Although Peter has observed that in general, local motorists have become better at giving cyclists a wider berth when overtaking, and avoid overtaking in oncoming traffic, he stays off his bike during the holiday season.
"I had a number of near misses, and the month after Christmas I don't go out on the road on my bike. Just before Christmas someone raced past us within inches of my shoulder at 100kph. Some people think it's a game, though others are very good and pull out and pass carefully. A lot of people who come here on holiday have bikes with them and take the whole family on a bike ride, and it really frightens me. While we now have more mountain-bike trails it would be great if road cyclists came here for a holiday, which would also extend the tourist season."
Traffic-wise, senior constable Crispin Lee agrees it has been a busy season overall in the Bay. Over the last five weeks the police have intercepted a handful of drunk drivers and were called to several car crashes, including a fatal accident in which a young pedestrian lost his life.
The constable said cyclists and other road users who feel harassed by reckless drivers can report an incident by filling in a traffic complaint form. Any complaint will be followed up by the police and the driver concerned will be contacted. Forms can be obtained from the police or on the internet. Cycling incidents can also be reported on the 0800 CYCLE CRASH line.
Traffic statistics state that "failing to observe" or not seeing a car or cyclist is the leading cause of crashes in the Tasman District. To reduce the risk of being squeezed off the road, cyclists, horse riders and motorcyclists can make themselves more visible by using lights and reflective clothing.
Constable Lee cautioned that both cyclists and motorists have a right to share the road, and need to stick to the rules and show some respect for each other.
"Both parties have a right to be on the road and both have to obey the road code."
Ina Holst
