enquiries@winderandco.nz 03 972 2021 3 Maxwell Road, Blenheim
Wednesday 24 July 2024 Wenerei 24 Hūrae 2024
Crash criteria not met PAULA HULBURT The number of crashes on a dangerous stretch of SH1 is not enough to see the speed limit lowered, road bosses reveal. Between 2000 and 2023, 21 people have died on SH1 between Blenheim and Picton and there have been 46 serious crashes. But in terms of lowering the current limit of 100kph, the total does “not meet the criteria” says a NZ Transport Agency Waka Katohi spokesperson. “The technical assessment was done but it did not reach the criteria. Other, larger roads did. “Reading between the lines, it is unlikely there will be a speed limit drop.” The revelation comes less than two weeks after local truck driver Benjamin Foster, 33, died following a two-vehicle crash at Tuamarina on 11 July. The Transport Agency’s Crash Analysis System Map shows a fatal accident almost every year on the road since 2000. Trouble areas include the section of straight road between Mount Pleasant and Koromiko. Since 1996, there have been five fatal accidents, two since 2020. Between Picton Aerodrome and south of Speeds Road, there have been six fatal accidents since 1991 and in Grovetown since 1982, 10 fatal accidents have been recorded. A technical assessment looks at crash history, average vehicle speeds, volume of vehicles and development of surrounding areas. Residents in the area have been calling for lower speed limits for more than a decade, with some questioning why roading authorities are not taking action. Responding to a social media post in June from Grovetown Hotel about the number of accidents and a call for action, Ann Vallance says change is needed. “Lowering the speed limit to 80 between Spring Creek and Blenheim would be a good start. It was talked about many years ago.
A roadside memorial to Andrew Milne who died while cycling to Christchurch for his first grandchild’s baby shower. Photo: William Woodworth. Continued on Page 2
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