Police have been left shaking their heads after attending a number of crashes in the Bay Plenty and Waikato today.
Currently, Tauranga Police are dealing with a crash on State Highway 29, near the Kaimai Range.
Police are appealing to all motorists to driver to the conditions after officers attended 11 crashes today. Photo: File
One lane is currently blocked and emergency services are working to clear the scene.
Motorists are being asked to drive with care and expect slight delays.
Inspector Freda Grace says over a five hour period emergency services were kept busy attending and trying to clear several crashes across the region.
Freda says there were 11 crashes in a five hour period.
'Speed and not driving to the conditions seems to be a common theme today,” says Freda.
Nine of the 11 crashes took place on rural roads which has placed a huge strain on popular routes used by holidaymakers to the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty, plus heavy transport vehicles servicing the ports of Tauranga and Auckland.
Freda says a number of the crashes involved commercial vehicles, including a truck hitting a barrier which closed the intersection of State Highway Two and SH25 at Mangatarata at about 9am.
'It's not just crashes making life difficult, as this incident was going on reports came in of two trucks breaking down on SH29, one on the Matamata side and one near the summit of the Kaimai Range.
'If that wasn't bad enough, a car hit a fence in the wet about 9.30am on SH27 near Kaihere while another car crashed on the same road about 1.30pm.”
The first crash occurred at about 7.35am and involved a car clipping a bridge on a bend on SH23 near Raglan.
Waikato officers are also currently assisting Central District Police with a fatal collision between a truck and a motorbike on SH3 in the Awakino Gorge.
Freda says the cause of the various crashes is yet to be determined but she feared drivers not adjusting to the conditions and inattention could have played a part.
'Recently we've experienced some excellent driving conditions but now the rain and wind is back with a vengeance. What this means is; we have to plan accordingly.
'If you don't need to go now, don't. Wait till it fines up and if you absolutely have to drive, make sure you drive to the conditions and as they've changed, so should your speed,” she says.
11 comments
Unbelievable
Posted on 08-01-2016 16:01 | By maildrop
It is about time IQs were tested as part of earning a licence. You wouldn't want a chimp to be driving a car and I reckon some of these people are not as intelligent as one.
No Surprise
Posted on 08-01-2016 16:13 | By Dr Phil
Its the same inconsiderate drivers that speed in good weather, think they can continue to drive like morons in poor weather. Come on Kiwi's, drive to the conditions, drive with some consideration for the other road users, Stop Tailgating, and for crying out loud - Use Your Indicators. Stop driving like you own the road. A driving Licence is not a right, its a privilege.
Driver Habits
Posted on 08-01-2016 19:10 | By tabatha
Today started driving about 6.30a.m. through till 5.00p.m.and what got me the most was the lack of lights in the misty wet conditions and the worst drivers were those in dark coloured cars. Totara Street at the Mount was heavy heading to Tauranga and I wanted to make a turn into Kawaka Street and a woman in a dark car was not willing to let me through and half blocked Kawaka Street, not young and should I feel learn a few manners. Overall those with lights on were driving considerately and those with out lights should have been home tucked in bed or watching a programme on "How to Drive in Wet Weather"
While I Agree
Posted on 08-01-2016 22:21 | By The Caveman
with the comments above, One must also question the MILLIONS of $$$$ spent by NZTA on some of the roads - sorry road surfaces - around NZ. Look at the road over the Kaimai Range (including the picture with this item) the CHEAP SMOOTH road surfaces that they are currently putting down are not "road safety" !! Look at the picture with item - a smooth road surface - the rain water sits on TOP of the road and makes the road like oil on glass when wet...... The road surface needs to be ROUGH CHIP, especially over the Kaimai Range, a high rainfall area - and then 95% of the water will run off the road between the chips, and not flow across the road surface (with the oil etc that trucks and cars have dropped) and the tops of the rough chips will give good grip.
Now break it down
Posted on 08-01-2016 22:48 | By NZgirl
How many over 70? How many middle aged? How many under 20? Then male or female. Oh then we have the overseas drivers.
crash
Posted on 09-01-2016 09:24 | By dumbkof2
Oh dear, all these vehicles losing controll. just blame the road and weather. Also all those trees and barriers that jump out suddenly.
Hmmmm
Posted on 09-01-2016 10:10 | By How about this view!
Ever wondered why the bigger vehicles travel so slowly going down a hill even in good conditions? Don't suppose it has anything to do with controlling your vehicle PROPERLY.
The Caveman
Posted on 09-01-2016 11:16 | By Austins543
So with the cheap chip seal the they put down, will give them more grip, but also the rain will rip it to shreds like it always did up there. which is why they've changed it to bitumen. So why do locals and people that drive that road daily want to put up with road works all year round.... the answer is they don't. So the surface that's there now is better than the chip seal....
Driving to the conditions
Posted on 10-01-2016 13:49 | By maddog
Well after driving on Friday in the rain i can say that i was shocked to see so many still thinking they are driving in dry conditions what shocked me was the lack of drivers not using there headlights and not giving room for braking as I drive a truck it was a big eye opener to watch a 4x4 ute with trailer drive pass me at speed in the wind conditions and watching his trailer fish tail all over the show he was not doing 90kms and not driving to the conditions
Whose to Blame?
Posted on 10-01-2016 17:35 | By swt3
I agree with dumbkof2 & Dr Phil. Everyone is quick to blame the stationary objects that some how, seem to jump out in front of you. Come on drivers, switch ON your headlights, (if you know what they are, obviously, most don't know what indicators are), drive to the damn conditions. CONCENTRATE as well. Put down those cell phones, keep the kids restrained in their seats, stop & take a good look at what you actually do as a driver. STOP blaming everyone else, & take 'responsibility' for your own actions. Yes, you do have to 'earn' your licence, you shouldn't just expect it as a right. Get real people. Stop behaving like a moron when out on the roads.
I wonder....
Posted on 15-01-2016 14:54 | By GreertonBoy
If all of these crashes are the same people with different cars? Or is there a whole new bunch of crashers causing chaos? It seems to me that every day there is multiple crashes.... every day? 11 in 5 hour is a bit of a crash-a-thon tho.... even for NZ standards.... [Add sarcasm there] wake up people!!!
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