Reminder to prevent stock from wandering onto highways

The NZ Transport Agency is reminding Northland rural property owners to ensure their fences are in the best condition to contain their livestock and prevent them wandering onto the regions roads and highways.

There have been 220 reports of wandering stock on state highways in Northland over the past six months.

The highest number of reports have been on State Highways in the Far North District and in rural areas around the wider State Highway 12 Kaikohe, State Highway 1 Mangamuka and State Highway 10 Kawakawa to south of Kerikeri.

The Transport Agency’s Safety and Network Performance Manager, Tim Crow, says farm animals that wander onto highways pose a real safety risk to all road users.

“Winter driving conditions add to the difficulty of seeing farm stock with fewer daylight hours and increased chances of fog in the mornings.”

In the five years from 2011 to 2015 there were 2 serious injury and 20 minor injury crashes reported to be the result of a collision with wandering stock.

“Rural property owners are required to ensure their land is securely fenced to prevent animals from straying onto the highway.”

“The owners of livestock are liable for any damage caused if their stock are wandering, and they can be prosecuted if animals cause a crash and negligence is proven.”

Motorists are asked to report any wandering stock by phoning 0800 4 HIGHWAYS.

ENDS

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