Rural intersections upgraded after triple-fatality highlighted dangers

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:

Safety upgrades to a series of rural intersections in Mid Canterbury are almost complete five years on from a fatal crash that killed a mum and her two children.

Upgrades to 33 sealed rural intersections, due to be finished by the end of this month, came in response to a coroner's report into the fatal crash at the intersection of Mitcham Rd and Hepburns Rd near Ashburton in April 2019.

Chante Harmer and her two children, Wysdom Tapiata-Harmer and Te Awanuiarangi Haami-Harmer, died after Harmer did not see the give way sign, the intersection or an approaching vehicle.

The coroner's report, released in April 2022, recommended the Ashburton District Council review 79 rural intersections.

Infrastructure and open spaces group manager Neil McCann said the work to improve signage and visibility, including larger signs and road markings, should be complete by the end of April.

The council had identified 79 sealed and unsealed intersections that were similar to the Mitcham Rd and Hepburns Rd where the triple-fatality occurred and reviewed signage and visibility for road users, McCann said.

“Of those, 33 sealed crossroads were identified for improvements.

“We have many long, straight sealed roads in the Ashburton District and we are concerned that drivers may miss signs alerting them to a give way or stop ahead.

“So we have put in additional warning signs and installed larger signs to draw attention to the upcoming intersection.

“Ultimately drivers need to do their part and drive safely and to the rules, but we are doing our part and making sure the intersections are well identified.”

Improved signage has already been installed at the intersection of Maronan Valetta Rd and Tinwald Westerfield Mayfield Rd, the scene of a fatal crash last year.

The intersection was awaiting an upgrade in response to the 2022 coroner’s report at the time of the crash.

That crash involved a truck from Mayfield-based Trailways Transport and owner John Stringer said earlier this year that putting up more signs won’t stop “inattentive drivers making bad decisions”.

“Mid Canterbury is one of the worst places in the world for complacency, with so many fatalities on straight road intersections.

“You can add all the signs you like but it won’t make a difference if someone’s on a cell phone or not paying attention.”

The Ashburton District had one of the largest roading networks in the country and the condition and safety aspects of the road, particularly intersections, were regularly reviewed, McCann said.

“Given the volume of traffic on our roads, we have relatively few crashes but we are committed to making our roads as safe as we can.

“We’re proposing to spend a lot more on road maintenance and rehabilitation, and will also keep looking at signs, visibility, line markings and anything else that could impede a driver’s ability to safely negotiate an intersection.”