Joint Road Safety and the New Zealand Transport Agency (JRS)

Transcription

1 Western Bay of Plenty District Council Minutes of Meeting No. JRS5 of the Joint Road Safety Committee held on 25 November 2014 in the Council Chamber, Barkes Corner, Tauranga Commencing at 10:00 a.m. Present Councillor K Marsh (Deputy Chairperson), and A Finn (Western Bay of Plenty District Council), M Parkes and K Smith (Tauranga City Council), J Mack (Bay of Plenty Regional Council), Senior Sergeant I Campion (NZ Police), and A Crean (NZ Transport Agency) In Attendance J Wilton (Inroads) and B Clarke (Democracy Support Officer Committees) Apologies Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Grainger (Tauranga City Council), and Member Francis (NZ Transport Agency). Senior Sergeant Campion / Member Finn THAT the apologies for absence from Councillor Grainger (Tauranga City Council) and Member Francis (New Zealand Transport Agency) be accepted. Introductions The Chairperson welcomed Justine Wilton of Inroads to the meeting, noting that her work involved minor road safety programmes and related matters. The Chairperson invited her to attend future Joint Road Safety Committee meetings. In response to a question, Ms Wilton advised that she would also be attending the Joint Road Safety Committee Operations in future in place of Phillip Barnes of Inroads. The Chairperson also welcomed Angela Crean of the NZ Transport Agency, who was in attendance on behalf of Adam Francis. He noted that Ms Crean was a Project Manager also working with minor road safety projects and related matters.

2 Minutes of JRS5 held on 25 November JRS5.1 Minutes of Meeting No. JRS4 of the Joint Road Safety Committee The Committee considered the minutes of JRS4 of the Joint Road Safety Committee meeting held on 12 August 2014 as circulated with the agenda. Member Finn / Member Smith THAT the minutes of Meeting No. JRS4 of the Joint Road Safety Committee held on 12 August 2014 as circulated with the agenda be confirmed as a true and correct record. JRS5.2 Western Bay Joint Road Safety Operations Meeting Minutes The Committee considered the minutes from the Western Bay Joint Road Safety Operations Meetings dated 10 September and 8 October 2014 as circulated with the agenda. Councillor Marsh / Member Finn THAT the minutes of Western Bay Joint Road Safety Operations Meetings dated 10 September and 8 October 2014 as circulated with the agenda be received. JRS5.3 New Zealand Police Report The Committee considered a report from Senior Sergeant Ian Campion (NZ Police) dated 25 November 2014 as circulated with the agenda. Senior Sergeant Campion gave a verbal overview of his report, highlighting key points with regard to fatal and non-fatal road accident statistics; high risk drivers; speed productivity; alcohol prosecutions by age group; static speed cameras, and the following Police operations: Operation Get it Right - Intersections (1-7 August 2014) Speed Operation (15-21 August 2014) Youth Driver Operation (29 August 5 September 2014) Back to School Operation (13-17 September 2014) Operation Profile - Alcohol (22 October January 2015) Speed Operation (10-16 November 2014) Back to School Operation (27 January 6 February 2015) New & Inexperienced Driver Operation (16-22 February 2015) Operation Belt Up Restraints (2-8 March 2015) Operation Kidi Klic Child Restraints (16-22 March 2015). In summary, Senior Sergeant Campion advised as follows: With the new lower breath and blood alcohol levels which would be in effect from 1 December 2014, adult levels of mcg of alcohol per litre of breath and blood alcohol levels of 51-80ml of alcohol per 100ml of blood were infringement offences. Failing the breath test for

3 Minutes of JRS5 held on 25 November mcg of alcohol per litre of breath would attract a $200 fine and 50 demerit points. For drivers under 20 years of age the limit remained at zero alcohol level. 4 km/hr speed tolerance would be in force from 1 December 2014 to 31 January Police would be stopping anyone travelling over the posted speed limit. Covert patrol vehicles were in operation. The Booze Bus would be installed with Biometrics which included fingerprint and facial recognition software/hardware allowing quick identification of drivers. In response to questions Sergeant Campion advised as follows: There were many contributing factors to the deteriorating road accident statistics, such as poor decisions around intersections, issues with elderly drivers, and issues with driver s who had consumed alcohol. There had been some issues with immigrant drivers on NZ roads in general. In terms of how much alcohol people could drink and still legally drive, there was no safe level, as alcohol affected everyone differently for a number of reasons. Therefore, Police considered that the only safe alcohol level for a driver was to consume none. Police were changing their tolerance to excess speed. If drivers exceeded the posted speed limits they would be stopped. Police wanted to get a clear message across to drivers that speed limits must be adhered to for the safety of everyone. Senior Sergeant Campion / Councillor Marsh THAT the report from Senior Sergeant Ian Campion (NZ Police) dated 25 November 2014 as circulated with the agenda be received. JRS5.4 Travel Safe Road Safety Action Plan Report The Committee considered the Road Safety Action Plan Report 2014 for the period 1 July 2014 to November 2014 from Karen Smith, Travel Safe Programme Leader (Tauranga City Council), as circulated with the agenda. Ms Smith gave a verbal overview of her report and highlighted key points with regard to planned 2015 Anti Drink/Drugs driving Youth Expo (targeting local Year 11 secondary school students/parents); 2015 Young People Alcohol/Drugs (local Year 8 secondary school students); Back to School programme; safer journey s signs for SH2; high risk rural intersections; speed indicator warning devices; restrains campaign/baby seats through community centres; high risk rural roads billboards SH2; cycle safety education programme; and the Orange Day parade (Katikati Primary won the banner competition). Ms Smith noted her sadness concerning the recent serious accident in Katikati involving an elderly woman on a mobility scooter, particularly as

4 Minutes of JRS5 held on 25 November the team had just completed five mobility scooter workshops in different parts of the community. She highlighted the need to access funding as this was an emerging issue of concern. Primary School Road Safety Banners Competition Ms Smith spoke to a powerpoint presentation showing 21 banners created by local primary school children from western bay and Tauranga schools. Some schools had the banners children had created for the past five years on display, and were also part of the Orange Day Parade, which was an ongoing message to the community. Councillor Marsh noted that he had been on the judging panel and that the standard for the banners had been high, making judging a challenging task. Judges had focused on the message the banner was getting across, and noted that the winning banner from Katikati Primary School students message had been Be Bright at Night. He congratulated all the students for their good efforts. Trafinz Leadership Award Tauranga City Council s Transportation Manager, Martin Parkes, presented the Trafinz Leadership Award for Leadership in Road Safety 2014 Cycle Safety Education Programme to Council s Transportation Manager, Alex Finn. The work and commitment of the Tauranga City Council Travel Safe Programme Leader and team were acknowledged by all those present. Ms Smith acknowledged the excellent partnerships between Tauranga City Council, NZ Police, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Accident Compensation Corporation, Western Bay of Plenty District Council, and the NZ Transport Agency, without which the programmes and Safer Journey Vision could not be achieved. Member Smith / Member Crean THAT the report for the period 1 July 2014 to November 2014 from the Travel Safe Programme Leader (Tauranga City Council) as circulated with the agenda be received. JRS5.5 New Zealand Transport Agency Road Safety Action Plan The Committee considered the November 2014 report from the New Zealand Transport Agency as circulated with the agenda. Angela Crean introduced the report on behalf of Adam Francis, highlighting key points in relation to the initiatives implemented to support Safer Journeys. In response to a question, Ms Smith advised that in relation to the SH29 Kaimai Range weather activated variable speed limit trial, the design was

5 Minutes of JRS5 held on 25 November underway with construction expected late 2014/early Speeds would be lowered to 80kms on the eastern side and lowered to 60kms down the western side of the Kaimai s in extreme winds, ice, rain or poor visibility. This had been set up in conjunction with NZ Police. When extreme weather thresholds were met the signs would be activated and controlled from Auckland. Member Crean / Member Finn THAT the November 2014 Road Safety Action Plan report from the New Zealand Transport Agency as circulated with the agenda be received. JRS5.6 Accident Compensation Corporation Update The Committee considered a report from the Community Injury Prevention Consultant of the Accident Compensation Corporation dated 12 November 2014 as circulated with the agenda. The Chairperson noted that no representative from Accident Compensation Corporation was in attendance, and the report would be taken as read. Councillor Marsh / Member Parkes THAT the report from the Community Injury Prevention Consultant of the Accident Compensation Corporation dated 12 November 2014 as circulated with the agenda be received. JRS Meeting Schedule for the Joint Road Safety Committee The Committee considered a report from the Democracy Support Administration Officer (Western Bay of Plenty District Council) dated 12 November 2014 as circulated with the agenda. Member Smith / Member Martin 1. THAT the report from the Western Bay of Plenty District Council Democracy Support Administration Officer dated 12 November 2014 as circulated with the agenda be received. 2. THAT the report relates to an issue that is not considered significant in terms of Council s policy on significance. 3. THAT the Joint Road Safety Committee notes the following meeting schedule for the 2015 year:

6 Minutes of JRS5 held on 25 November Meeting Date Agenda Closing Venue 24 February February 2015 Western Bay of Plenty 19 May May 2015 Western Bay of Plenty 11 August July 2015 Western Bay of Plenty 24 November November 2015 Western Bay of Plenty The meeting concluded at a.m. Confirmed as a true and correct record. Councillor B Grainger Chairperson Date JRS5