Ministry dismisses blame
PA Auckland The lane-control system was not to blame for a head-on crash on the Auckland Harbour bridge on Sunday that left five people dead, said the Ministry of Transport. Chief Traffic Inspector Dick Waters said the crash was typical of the increasing number of head-on collisions throughout New Zealand and was most likely caused by driver error. “No matter what legislation is introduced, we
cannot legislate against driver incompetence,” he said. The Ministry was yesterday waiting for a request for an urgent review of traffic control from the Minister of Transport, Mr Prebble. “The accident will be investigated thoroughly. We do not fly blind,” Mr Waters said. “If there is anything found that needs improving we will do so. However, the lane-control system (used on the Sydney Harbour bridge and the
Golden Gate bridge) is extremely effective,” he said. A suggestion from the chairman of the Auckland Regional Authority and the Mayor of Takapuna, Mr Fred Thomas, that median barriers be placed on the harbour bridge was not practical, Mr Waters said. Bridge lanes were too narrow and the variable lane system, where traffic flows were regulated in peak hours, would not run efficiently with any sort of barrier.
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Press, 30 September 1986, Page 3
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203Ministry dismisses blame Press, 30 September 1986, Page 3
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