Distraction in weekend crashes

Drivers need to be 'switched on and alert” is the message from police following a spate of crashes on Western Bay roads this weekend.

Between Saturday and 6am Monday road police attended five minor injury crashes, including a car that crashed into a ditch on State Highway 36 and a ute that rolled in Te Puke.

Police attended five crashes on Western Bay roads at the weekend.

Acting Western Bay of Plenty road policing manager Sergeant Mike Owen says emergency services were called to a car crashed off No. 3 Road at Te Puke about 7.40pm July 26.

'The car has taken a corner a bit wide and got into the loose metal,” says Mike.

'The driver has panicked, obviously tried to over correct and hit a bank and rolled on to its side. That was non-injury.”

Later that night, at 11pm in Mount Maunganui, a driver crashed into a parked car on Maunganui Road near Blake Park. The driver received minor treatment from St John paramedics at the scene.

'It appears that the cause of the crash might be distraction.”

Then at 3am a motorcyclist hit a barrier at the Bayfair roundabout. Mike says there is no other information as the motorcyclist left the scene before police arrived.

On Sunday a driver, described as a young male, was taken to Tauranga Hospital with a suspected broken arm after crashing his car on State Highway 36.

Mike says the crash, at about 5.40pm, was 3km south of the Taumata Road on the Pyes Pa direct road to Rotorua.

The car ended up in some scrub in a ditch. The driver was taken to Tauranga Hospital by a passing motorist, who arrived soon after the crash. Police are still investigating the cause of that crash.

The main message from the weekend's crashes if for motorists to 'switch on and pay full attention while driving”, says Mike.

'I guess it's just around paying particular attention your environment and the other road users around you.

'Stay off your cellphones because they are a big cause of distraction and just pay absolute particular attention to those around you.”

You may also like....

0 comments

Leave a Comment


You must be logged in to make a comment.