No No 434 633
FIRST ON THE STREET
rd nd Jan 2018 16 Jan -- 322 27thth Jan Feb 2014
LAKES WEEKLY BULLETIN
1 J 4 IN O 7 SI BS D E
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As the Queenstown-Lakes population and visitor numbers have grown, there’s been more discussion about the behaviour of drivers on our roads. Tourists seem to bear the brunt of the blame; everyone has a story about a camper van on the wrong side of the road or being stuck behind a lost tourist driver who’s driving at 20km p/h in a 50km p/h zone to check the name of each hotel. Though I have seen some shabby driving by drivers of rental vehicles, it’s the habits of some local drivers which I’ve found more frightening – in part, because I expect them to be the better drivers, the ones setting a good example. These are the drivers who know the roads and should know the road rules. They’re the ones who should know how an indicator works and the ones who should know that overtaking a slow tourist driver on a blind corner is potentially deadly. Yet over the summer months, I’ve heard of or been witness to numerous nearmiss-incidents caused by impatient locals. Overtaking slow tourist drivers on blind corners seems to be a burgeoning trend on the Queenstown-Glenorchy road and tailgating anyone who dares to drive at (rather than over) the speed limit is another favourite. It comes across as egotistical – as if these drivers think that road rules and *555 calls are aimed only at tourists.
Chief Steward Roger Topkins leads the annual parade with Queenstown music exports the Brentwood Duo who were back in town to play at the 103rd Lake Hayes A&P show on Saturday. (Photo: Jodi Walters)
Figures from the Ministry of Transport show that 69% of collisions causing death or injury in the Queenstown-Lakes region between 2012 – 2016 were caused by New Zealand drivers. Distraction, following too close, driving too fast for the conditions and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol are listed as the most common causes of serious incidents on the road. To me, these are inexcusable. Until the future arrives and we all have self-driving cars, human error is always going to be a factor in car crashes… but drinking and driving, texting and driving or being impatient and making dangerous manoeuvres are all choices – not unintended mistakes. The debate about how to manage visiting drivers is bound to go on – particularly in a region which thrives on tourism. But the habits of local drivers don’t need to be up for debate – the dangers of driving drunk, of making dangerous manoeuvres and speeding have been well documented. Though there’s many good, sensible drivers in the region, it only takes one impatient driver to make one bad decision and take a life. Bethany G. Rogers Geordie Off-Shore
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