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Community road safety

Often communities come to us wanting to resolve a road safety issue that they have identified and are concerned about. Auckland City can support communities to find and implement solutions to these issues.

Traffic speed

Image of the slow down sign. Is traffic speed a problem in your community? You can do something about it!

Auckland City can assist you to develop and deliver a local traffic speed project in your street. There are a number of strategies that can be used in planning and delivering your project. Auckland City also works closely with other key stakeholders during these projects such as New Zealand Police and Accident Compensation Corporation. Accident Compensation Corporation have a speed trailer which identifies the speed that drivers are travelling at when they pass the trailer. The trailer raises driver awareness of the speed they are travelling, and can add impact to the project. The trailer needs to be booked if it is required as part of the project- contact us for more information.

Image of the slow down sign.  

SALT
Slower and less traffic. Auckland city has worked in many communities to deliver local speed projects. The most recent of them being the slower and less traffic (SALT) group in Pt Chevalier. Visit the SALT website to learn more about this community organisation and their projects.


Use of safety belts and child restraints

On our busy roads, wearing safety belts and buckling children in child car restraints is required by law. To save lives and reduce injury, the use of safety belts in rear seats needs to increase.

Auckland City works with the community to encourage the correct installation and use of child restraints at all times. If you are not buckling your children in, you risk being fined $150 per person. And don't forget that all car occupants need to be buckled in, regardless of age!

Clicki Ricki is a modified car that can be used by community groups to help teach adults and children how to safely and correctly use safety belts and child restraints. Clicki Ricki is available for hire through Auckland City - contact us for more information.

Image of clicki ricki.


Injury prevention

Auckland City also works with the following groups to provide supplementary funding, support and advice on community road safety initiatives:

  • PIO - Preventing injury in Otahuhu
  • PITA - Preventing injury through action
  • GIIPC - Glen Innes injury prevention coalition.

If you are interested in joining one of these injury prevention groups in your community please contact us


Solar studs on Ngapipi Road

Over three nights, finishing on Monday, 27 March, 2006 the council is installing high-tech solar studs along the centre line and edge of Ngapipi Road in Orakei.

The aim of this road safety project is to help reduce night-time crashes. In five years, there have been 58 loss-of-control crashes reported on the road, with more than 90 per cent of crashes occurring in wet and dark, or overcast conditions.

The reflective raised markers, known as solar studs, will better delineate this hazardous stretch of road by giving out a small light directed to oncoming traffic during dark and poor light conditions.

The technology is a first for Auckland City and will be trialled over five years, with an initial assessment taking place in six months to one year's time.

The Eastern Bays Community Board has significantly funded the local initiative.


Mt Albert driver feedback signs

A new high-tech signage system is being installed along Mt Albert Road in late June 2006 to get speedsters to take their foot off the accelerator.

Four electronic feedback signs are being installed at black spots along this busy arterial route, with motorists' flashed their individual speeds as they drive past.

The custom-made electronic signage detects approaching vehicle speeds by radar. This speed data is then processed and illuminated on the sign's solar-power light emitting diode (LED) panel.

Following a high number of crashes on Mt Albert Road, the feedback signs initiative aims to reduce overall traffic speeds by increasing driver awareness. There were 86 loss-of-control crashes along the length of Mt Albert Road between 2000 and 2005, with 53 crashes occurring between Mt Eden and Sandringham roads.

A speed survey was taken on Mt Albert Road before the start of the project. Further surveys will be taken at regular monthly intervals during the course of the 12-month trial to assess its effectiveness.

The community project is a joint effort by Auckland City and Mt Roskill Community Board, which has contributed around half of the total $100,000 cost.


Community road safety initiatives

Auckland City works with many individuals, groups, organisations and businesses who promote and carry out valuable road safety work in their communities.

Image of don't drop and drive banner. UP FM for example, ran the UP FM Solar series through December 05 to March 06 with the aim of pushing the message 'Don't drop and drive'. With the proliferation of dance pill usage in NZ, UP FM saw a lack of understanding regarding the dangers of driving under the influence of them. At the same time they promoted the 'Don't drink and drive' message.

UP FM received recognition of this when they won a Mayor of Auckland's community safety award in August 06. The award was given for the UP FM Solar series for setting up alternative funding for the initiative and successfully brining the road safety message to the party crowd, a traditionally hard to reach group. When police checks were carried out no infringements were reported. UP FM will run their Solar series again through December 06 to March 07.

Auckland City also works with Auckland district police and most recently the NZ Guangdong Association to ensure the road safety message gets through to the Chinese community over the summer holiday period. While some Chinese people return to their home country during the NZ summer holidays, there is a concern that many stay in NZ and choose to travel to various tourist destinations, often with family visiting from overseas.

In November 2006, three seminars were given at the Fickling Centre in Three Kings, one in Cantonese and two in Mandarin. The Auckland district police Asian liaison officer delivered these seminars to raise awareness about road safety and more specifically driver safety in the Asian community. They were also educated about driving on NZ open roads over the summer holiday period.

For more information on these road safety initiatives, contact us.

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