16 June 2009

Improving driver safety on bends is the focus of a new road safety campaign in Franklin.

Franklin District Council is running a competition through the Franklin County News to encourage residents to identify pictures of local bends which have some of the highest rate of crashes.

Residents who successfully identify the six bends featured in the competition ad will go into the draw to win one of two advanced driver training courses to improve their driving skills, sponsored by Holden Advanced Driver Training and National Advanced Drivers School.

The purpose of the campaign is to increase awareness about the need to be cautious when approaching bends, especially bends which have a high rate of vehicle crashes.

“The highest number of crashes in Franklin occur on rural bends,” says Franklin Road Safety Coordinator Monique Haines.

“The district has a large rural roading network which has a number of sharp bends which should be approached cautiously. It’s really important that people slow down and observe the recommended speeds when taking corners or drive slower if the conditions require this.”

Statistics show that crashes on bends are usually the result of a driver losing control of their vehicle, and either running off the road, or colliding with another vehicle. After losing control the vehicle often crashes into road-side hazards such as ditches, trees, banks or poles.

The campaign is one of many road safety initiatives that Franklin District Council has carried out with the Police and other agencies in recent years.

Entries for the competition close on 1 July 2009.