Residents fear Auckland's deadly highway

Wednesday, 9 May 2018

Residents beg Auckland Transport to review Diary Flat Highway and its speeds and intersections.

Fed-up residents in north Auckland are begging Auckland Transport to review what they call 'Death Trap Road' or 'Deadly Flat Highway'.

Dairy Flat Highway has been under the spotlight and residents have felt on edge after two recorded accidents took place on Anzac Day, including the Johnny Danger Bennett fatality and a three car pile up.

Police say they are aware of at least two fatal crashes on the highway in the past six months, where three people were killed - residents say that is far too many.

Social media star Johnny Bennett was one of many fatalities on the stretch of road.

Witnessing an accident on a weekly basis is considered as 'normal' for residents who sometimes fear their children leaving home or travelling through the surrounding intersections.

**READ MORE:

Rodney Local Board's Louise Johnston is applying the pressure on Auckland Transport to get the speed limits reviewed.

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Louise Sneddon says many people take risks when crossing at the intersection.

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Residents say this intersection is one of the worst in the country.

Resident Lisa Nielsen said something urgently needs to be done about the highway.

'There are so many residents with kids learning to drive on that death trap road.'

Coateville resident Louise Brooks said she wont let her children be driven through the intersection.

Neighbour Louise Brookes said teens call the unforgiving road 'deadly flat highway'.

'I am very selective as to who will drive my daughter through the Coatesville and Riverhead Highway intersection which is one of the country's top 10 worst intersections. It is my worst nightmare thinking of teens learning to drive out there.

'I won't let the babysitter or international students take my daughter through the intersection to go to Albany, it is just not safe.'

Brookes said there is a high level of non compliance at the Coatesville Riverhead Highway intersection on Dairy Flat Highway.

Simon Barker has witnessed 'hundreds' of accidents and has been in a dozen himself along Dairy Flat Highway.

'We need a roundabout and rumble strips at the intersection, there is nothing more important than the safety of our community.

'The vast majority of accidents at the intersection on Dairy Flat Highway occur because people don't understand it and don't seem to know the road code.'

Cars have been seen illegally cutting corners to get out of the way of traffic.

Renee Archer said she moved to Coatesville wanting to escape the chaos.

'I now live on a road that I thought would be safe, however, in one week there was a car through the fence everyday until there was a cross and flowers.

Police have put a new speed camera on the corner of Hobson Road in the hope to stop people from speeding.

'It terrifies me every day I drive home with my precious cargo [family].'

Senior Sergeant Todd Moore-Carter said the police are aware the highway has seen a number of crashes in the past few months but were unable to provide specific numbers.

'We know that crashes can be caused by a number of varying factors, including speed, fatigue, weather conditions and driving behaviour.

'The Dairy Flat Highway goes from an urban to rural environment and includes open roads and several bends. Therefore we particularly urge motorists to drive to the conditions, watch their speed, and pay consideration to other motorists,' he said.

Rodney Local Board's Louise Johnston said locals have been concerned for years about the speed limit.

'Previously it was difficult for Auckland Transport to lower the speed limit but legislations changed about a year ago and now Auckland Transport are able to change them, however, locals were very disappointed that in the first year of review Dairy Flat Highway was not included.'

This prompted a petition which got 1000 signatures in two weeks.

'Auckland Transport is coming to the party but in the interim death's and serious injuries are continuing. We need to keep putting the pressure on them.

'One good thing is in the regional transport plan there is a massive increase in rural road safety,' Johnston said.

Auckland Transport's Randhir Karma responded to the petition and said they were investigating speed limit changes.

Speed changes were going to be reviewed along Dairy Flat Highway south of Kahikatea Flat Road, the surrounding areas of Dairy Flat Village and at the Green Road, Blackbridge Road and Kahikatea Flat Road intersections.

'The following investigations are currently in progress and we are expecting to present some concepts to the Local Board and wider community once we have engaged with our Speed Management key stakeholders,' Karma said.