Accident analysis report received enthusiastically

Press, 23 March 1985, Page 14

Accident analysis report received enthusiastically

PA Wellington An accident analysis team could save New Zealand $75 million in five years, the National Roads Board has heard. A special investigating team led by a British consultant, Miss Barbara Sabey, has reported to the board on a study of 15 accident-prone areas between Porirua and the Manawatu River. The team said that for only $92,000 engineering, the board could more than halve the accidents at those places. A national accident-analy-sis team could prevent 15 per cent of all road accidents saving New Zealand about $75 million every five years.

The engineering to make that possible would cost only $l5 million, Miss Sabey said.

Miss Sabey will return to Britain soon, leaving behind a team skilled at accident analysis. The Minister of Works and board chairman, Mr Colman, was enthusiastic about establishing a permanent investigation group,

though that would need Cabinet approval. “There is a hunger to come to grips with the problem,” he said. “There would be a great response to this idea. It is one of the most positive things we have seen.” The team system has been used effectively in Britain since 1974 and was used on the Wellington district accident areas after

September, 1984. Miss Sabey said one easy way to reduce accidents was to change traffic signs radically. The white-on-black signs should be replaced with black-on-white or yellow which was more visible, she said. She also advocated fewer pedestrian crossings, as respect would grow for those left.