11 July 2000

Several moves will be taken by the Christchurch City Council following the death of an 18-year-old motorist on Evans Pass Road two weeks ago.

The City Services Committee decided today, as well as other moves, that it would form a sub-committee to review the safety of the road and produce recommendations to the next meeting of the committee.

Tim Hopper died on part of the road where oil had been spilt and there was no crash barrier. His father, David Hopper, criticised the standard of road safety and later led a protest outside the City Council offices this week and was met by the Mayor, Garry Moore, and Councillors.

The committee decided yesterday to also to get a report on procedures followed when oil spills are reported on roads.

Families of crash victims are to be informed of the steps the committee will take.

The City Council’s Traffic Engineer, Brian Neill, said a road safety audit would be carried out as well as a crash-reduction study.

He said road safety was a priority for the Council and crash patterns on city roads were monitored from information from the police and the Land Transport Safety Authority crash database.

"Black spots are identified and crash reduction studies undertaken to determine the extent of remedial works require to improve the road environment," Mr Neill said.

The committee’s chairman, Denis O’Rourke, said the sub-committee would look at what the Council should be doing on Evans Pass Road. "I went to have a look at the scene of the crash and it looks as though safety is not an issue without an oil spill," he said.

However, some signs might be needed on the other side of the road from the crash site, he said.

Cr. O’Rourke thought old barriers on other bends, now damaged,

might have to be replaced.

Some members of the committee were concerned about procedures followed when oil spills on roads were reported to the Council and called for a report on them. It also decided that the City Streets Unit document remedial action when oil spills are reported.

Further information: Cr. Denis O’Rourke: 021 632 670.