"Putting a ‘stop’ at intersections in Canterbury District"
As part of a District-wide focus to reduce the number of crashes at stop-controlled intersections Canterbury Police are
running a two week campaign with the Waimakariri Road Safety Committee focussing on improving driving behaviour.
Inspector Al Stewart, Canterbury Police Road Policing Manager, says “The issue of driver behaviour at rural
intersections is a District-wide issue. Around half of the crashes that Canterbury Police and Serious Crash Unit
officers attend each year are at intersections. Many of these are caused when a driver is distracted, fatigued, under
the influence of alcohol/drugs or driving too fast. Canterbury roads are as safe as those using them and we want all
road users to reach their destination safely. This is one of the reasons why we partner with Road Safety Committees and
other organisations across the District to target poor driver behaviour.”
Nearly 40% of crashes occur at intersections in the Waimakariri area of Canterbury and in the first week of this annual
campaign Police have issued 81 infringement notices to motorists for failing to stop at stop signs.
“We are very disappointed that motorists still appear to have trouble stopping at stop sign controlled intersections.
It is amazing that drivers still think they can drive past a stop sign if they slow down or believe the way is clear.
This is not the case and ‘stop’ does actually mean ‘come to a complete stop’. Worryingly three disqualified drivers
were amongst those who failed to stop at stop signs” explained Canterbury Police Strategic Traffic Unit Supervisor in
North Canterbury, Sergeant Rene Pabst.
One driver was issued a notice for a red traffic light infringement on Smith Street over the motorway. Two other
drivers turning right from Williams Street, at the Pineacres corner, to head north were issued an infringement notice
for entering a lane unavailable to them.
Sergeant Pabst said “A vehicle was seen driving through the stop sign controlled intersection of Johns Road and
Plasketts Road on the 22 May 2015 at about 100 kmh. A number of serious and fatal crashes have occurred at this
intersection in the past. The driver, who claimed she did not see the stop signs, has been summonsed to appear in
Christchurch District Court charged with careless use of a motor vehicle.”
The photograph attached to this release shows the intersection of Johns Road and Plasketts Road looking west.
While the annual campaign with the Waimakariri Road Safety Committee finishes on 31 May 2015 Canterbury Police will
continue to target intersections across the District throughout the year.
“In the last 12 months alone Canterbury Police have increased intersection enforcement by 25% overall and we will
continue to focus on intersections throughout the District until we see a marked improvement in driver behaviour” said
Inspector Stewart.
ENDS