All high risk roads should be urgently fitted with a centre barrier to prevent head-on collisions, says a leading road safety campaigner.
Clive Matthew-Wilson, editor of the car review website dogandlemon.com, was commenting after today’s fatal two-car crash on State Highway 1 near Paekakariki.
The accident was caused by one vehicle drifting into the path of another.
Matthew-Wilson says he’s disgusted that the government has left a large section of this road unprotected, despite multiple fatalities.
“This accident would probably not have occurred if there was a wire rope median strip to separate opposing lanes of traffic.”
Matthew-Wilson comments:
“The government always claims that it would cost too much to install a proper centre barrier down unsafe roads like this one. However, the cost of upgrading this road would be peanuts compared to the cost of a new road.
“The AA estimates that measures such as installing wire ropes and rumble strips could prevent up to 90 road deaths per year. That’s nearly a third of the current road toll. Why does the government continue to hold up this vital road safety move?
“Scientific studies show beyond doubt that many head-on collisions are easily preventable.
“When a wire rope median barrier was installed on another, equally notorious stretch of the Centennial highway, the serious injuries and deaths stopped overnight. Surely this result speaks for itself?
“The government should make these wire rope barriers its top priority, far ahead of building new roads that may not be ready for decades.”
Matthew-Wilson adds:
“For as long as there have been cars, there have been angry, tired and distracted drivers who tragically die due to a single moment’s inattention. I think that, in 100 years time, children will scarcely believe that, in the 21st century, cars were able to speed past each other in opposite directions at 100km/h, with nothing to stop those vehicles colliding.”
