Wednesday 5 April, 2017
Ashburton
District Council is urging motorists to check, and check again before entering
an intersection in a bid to help protect the community from deadly motor
vehicle crashes.
Almost
half (43 per cen
t) of all crashes in Ashburton District occur at intersections,
with reports showing 114 of these accidents between 2012 and 2016 resulted in
injury and a further nine were fatal.
“Many
crashes in other areas of New Zealand occur at urban intersections, but most
car crashes at intersections in our district are on rural roads where higher
speed limits apply. This can be deadly for motorists as speed often
dramatically affects the outcome,” Council Road Safety Coordinator Jeremy
Lambert says.
“For
everyone’s sake, when you come to an intersection, please check, and check
again. That means properly slowing down or stopping completely, then taking the
extra time to look both ways. It could save your life,” he adds.
Ashburton
District Council is working together with Selwyn, Timaru and Waimakariri
councils to get the message heard, in hopes of encouraging positive driving
habits throughout Canterbury.
Ashburton
motorists are being invited to test their knowledge of intersection road rules
to go in the draw to win a $250 Motor Trade Association (MTA) gift voucher and
weekly $50 MTA voucher draws.
Entry
forms for the competition are available at locations around the district,
including the Council Administration Building, 5 Baring Square West, Ashburton.
For a full list of locations, visit the Council website.