Council To Take Action Over Hills Crash
Several moves will be taken by the Christchurch City Council following the death of an 18-year-old motorist on Evans
Pass Road two weeks ago.
The City Services Committee decided today, as well as other moves, that it would form a sub-committee to review the
safety of the road and produce recommendations to the next meeting of the committee. Tim Hopper died on part of the road
where oil had been spilt and there was no crash barrier. His father, David Hopper, criticised the standard of road
safety and later led a protest outside the City Council offices this week and was met by the Mayor, Garry Moore, and
Councillors. The committee decided yesterday to also to get a report on procedures followed when oil spills are reported
on roads. Families of crash victims are to be informed of the steps the committee will take. The City Council's Traffic
Engineer, Brian Neill, said a road safety audit would be carried out as well as a crash-reduction study. He said road
safety was a priority for the Council and crash patterns on city roads were monitored from information from the police
and the Land Transport Safety Authority crash database. "Black spots are identified and crash reduction studies
undertaken to determine the extent of remedial works require to improve the road environment," Mr Neill said. The
committee's chairman, Denis O'Rourke, said the sub-committee would look at what the Council should be doing on Evans
Pass Road. "I went to have a look at the scene of the crash and it looks as though safety is not an issue without an oil
spill," he said. However, some signs might be needed on the other side of the road from the crash site, he said. Cr.
O'Rourke thought old barriers on other bends, now damaged, might have to be replaced. Some members of the committee were
concerned about procedures followed when oil spills on roads were reported to the Council and called for a report on
them. It also decided that the City Streets Unit document remedial action when oil spills are reported.
Further Sam Fisher Corporate Communication Co-ordinator Christchurch City Council 03 371-1762 025
229 3552