The number of fatal crashes in the Western Bay of Plenty has almost doubled compared to this time last year, with the current toll sitting at 11.

At the same stage in 2013, six people had lost their lives on the WBOP roads.

The current road toll for the Western Bay of Plenty is sitting at 11.

Tauranga father Craig Ritchie is the latest person to lose his life in the region.

He was killed when his motorbike crashed with a truck on State Highway 2, near Gill Lane, on Friday, November 7.

At the time of the crash, Western Bay of Plenty highway patrol Sergeant Mike Owen said the Harley Davidson motorbike Craig was riding was travelling towards Tauranga on SH2 when it collided with a 10 tonne Nissan truck and trailer unit turning right into Gill Lane.

'In general I am really disappointed with the number of crashes in the Western Bay of Plenty at the moment,” says Western Bay of Plenty road policing manager Senior Sergeant Ian Campion.

'Compared to last year, we're nine per cent up on crashes and significantly up to last year's fatality rate.

'We're sitting on 11 for this year, compared to last year when there was only six for the same time. That's extremely disappointing.”

Looking right across the crash spectrum for serious injury, minor injury and non-injury crashes, Ian adds: 'We are well up on last year”.

'Most of those crashes are around intersections and people not taking the necessary care or distraction, as well as speed.

'I'm really disappointed. Things were moving in the right direction last year and now we have done a complete about turn.

'I really need all drivers out there to concentrate on their driving and stop making silly mistakes.”