Monday 1 September 2008

‘Wheel of Chance’ to feature in North Shore road safety campaign

The Wheel of Chance used in the NZ Transport Agency’s current television advertisements about the dangers of intersections will feature in a North Shore road safety campaign launching tomorrow. A real life replica of the Wheel will be placed near (but at a safe distance from) intersections with high or rapidly rising crash rates.

The campaign also uses roadside billboards, press advertising and posters. It is jointly organised by North Shore City Council, NZ Police and the ACC and will be backed up by a Police enforcement campaign.

Police Senior Sergeant Rod Fraser says, “During this campaign you can expect to see a high visibility approach alongside covert policing tactics in high risk locations. We will also be paying particular attention to poor driver behaviour, with the aim of improving community safety.”

Adi James, Team Leader Travel Behaviour Change at North Shore City Council, says, “The Wheel is a very striking image and also a very effective way of reminding people to stop and think at intersections, where there is a high potential risk of serious injury or death.

“Campaigns such as this, in conjunction with enforcement and engineering measures, are succeeding in making intersections on the North Shore safer. The number of people killed or seriously injured in car crashes at intersections in the city fell from 25 in 2006 to 13 last year.

“However, more needs to be done. Failing to give way at intersections is the third largest cause of death or injury, after excessive speed and drink driving, and drivers need to be made aware that bad calls at intersections can be deadly.”

The Wheel’s first placement will be close to the intersection of Sunnybrae and Northcote Roads, Northcote (near the Mobil station) tomorrow afternoon from 1pm.

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