On the Beat – police
First up this week, a fresh reminder that you can never know what is going on with other drivers on the road.
Deb Hann
Strategic Traffic staff recently stopped a driver for speeding in a 50kph zone in Leamington at 2pm on a weekday. Breath alcohol procedures were carried out, and the driver returned a result over three times the legal limit. The driver is facing court charges accordingly. In Te Awamutu, last Friday afternoon another driver was stopped on State Highway 3 due to excess speed. The driver is similarly facing charges after they returned a breath alcohol reading twice the legal limit.
Such situations are a reason to drive defensively, always being aware of your surroundings, potential hazards and the behaviour of others. Anyone driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs poses a significant risk to other road users. They will not have the same driving control or reaction times as they would have sober. They may display inconsistent driving speeds, tailgating, random braking, weaving in their lane and crossing the fog and centre lines or simply fail to follow the road line causing them to crash. If you see dangerous driving behaviour, call 111 and provide regular updates.
As a Community Liaison Officer, I get assigned a wide range of files requiring investigation and intervention. My current caseload includes reports involving “neighbours at war”.
In my experience, most of these situations stem from disputes over boundaries, access rights, or disagreements about hedges and trees. Such matters are civil rather than criminal in nature, and many are preventable with early, calm negotiation.
To reduce the risk of escalation, start by getting clear on the actual issue. Focus on facts rather than assumptions, and identify a preferred, but realistic outcome. Keeping a simple record of dates, times, and the nature of the behaviour can help clarify the situation and ensure it isn’t being overstated. In many cases, escalation is not one-sided so consider how your actions may have been affecting the situation. If you decide to approach your neighbour, try not to catch them off guard. A calm, respectful conversation at the right time and place, gives you the best chance of resolving the issue before it becomes something bigger.
If despite your best efforts, things do not improve, it may be time to involve outside agencies, for example Waipa District Council for boundary queries, noise complaints or other issues such as illegal parking, dogs barking or pollution. If escalation occurs to the point of harm to person or damage to property, call 111.
