Burn outs, donuts and excessive speed by boy racers could be a thing of the past in parts of Te Awamutu and Kihikihi following a Waipā District Council recommendation.
Transportation safety officer Julie Taylor told the Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board at its meeting last night – after The News went to press – that antisocial driving was on the increase in the district.
“Much of, although not all, such behaviour occurs late at night. As well as making other motorists feel unsafe on the roads, this behaviour is often intimidating and creates litter issues and excessive noise. In rural areas, the noise frightens stock, as well as disturbing residents,” she said.
Earlier this year Waipā councillors agreed to create a light motor vehicle prohibition register and ban the cars from selected roads between 9pm and 4am every day.
The roads chosen in Te Awamutu-Kihikihi for discussion by the board were in the Bond Road industrial area, Puahue Rd – Parklands Rd – Chamberlain Rd loop and Arapuni/Bulmers Landings area.
The register would be created under a clause in the Waipā District Public Places Bylaw 2018. It would be an offence for the light motor vehicles to be on the roads during that time unless they had legitimate business there.
The Bond Rd area takes in Riverhurst Dve, Benson Rd, Jack Russell Dve, Bruce Berquist Dve, Livingstone Brothers Lane and Mathews Place.
“Industrial cul de sacs are ideal for light motor vehicle prohibitions as they have little legitimate night traffic and there are limited exit points for antisocial drivers to evade police,” said Taylor.
Roads in Cambridge and Pirongia are also being eyed for the ban.
Taylor said the prohibition might reduce antisocial driving activity but was only effective if police were available to respond.
“It will therefore be important that residents report activity at the time it is happening,” she said.
If the roads chosen reduces or eliminates antisocial driving, then other roads could be added.
The board was to consider the list of roads and submit its views to the Service Delivery committee at its February meeting.
“The community board members’ insight into what is happening in their area will help focus council resources to best target the locations where need is greatest and the light motor vehicle prohibitions are likely to be most effective,” Taylor said.
