Around $390,000 a year is being spent by Tauranga City Council to install, replace and repair traffic signs – a majority damaged in vehicle crashes.
Council transportation operations manager Martin Parkes says it costs council about $300, including GST, to replace each road sign, depending on the size and location of the sign.
Crashes involving road signs and barriers cost Tauranga City Council $300 to $4000 depending on what needs to be replaced and the extent of the damage.
Guardrails, such as those along Takitimu Drive, cost between $1000 and $4000 to repair or replace.
Martin says in the last 12 months council has replaced around 35 to 40 signs as a result of vehicle damage.
There are approximately 12,600 traffic signs around Tauranga City.
'Each year we spend about $390,000 installing, replacing and repairing traffic signs,” says Martin.
He says not all of the costs are paid for by the ratepayer with damages shared between council and the New Zealand Transport Agency.
'Also, if we receive details from the police of the driver responsible, we seek reimbursement from the driver to repair and replace the damaged sign or barrier.
'Reimbursement is handled by the police as part of any prosecution they may pursue.”
Martin says council receive reimbursement for costs for about 80 per cent of the signs and barriers damaged.
In this financial year Martin says there has been no noticeable difference in the costs of replacing and repairing road signs and barriers compared to previous years.
The number of crashes on Bay of Plenty roads from Monday, October 1 to October 7 doubled with a total of 27 crashes, up from 12 the previous week.
Western Bay of Plenty road policing manager Senior Sergeant Ian Campion says the main cause of those crashes is people failing to give way at intersections.
While crashes involving elderly drivers contributed to the second highest number of crashes, with a total of six in that week.
Ian says the remaining number of road crashes included incidents involving alcohol and speed, resulting in two serious injuries and three minor.
'It wasn't related to weather, they were related to people making silly mistakes following to close, not giving way, travelling too quickly, not making the right road gap selection and then of course alcohol which is a no brainer.”
He says people need to understand the responsibility lies in the hands of anyone who gets behind the wheel.
5 comments
Send the bill
Posted on 26-10-2012 13:52 | By penguin
Make the drivers pay if shown to be at fault! Even council should be able to comprehend that. Don't the power companies do it?
Make it clear to the Courts that Council wants reparations
Posted on 26-10-2012 14:55 | By Phailed
Not so sure from this story that a convincing argument is being made for reparations from the perpetrators. Surely their insurance would cover the damage? Once thing's certain, the cost shouldn't fall on ratepayers.
EASY ANSWER
Posted on 26-10-2012 18:08 | By PLONKER
Send the bill to the insurance companies to pay from the policies of the vehicle owners, problem solved and 100% cost recovery ... but then that would be a new thing for TCC to achieve any day of the week.
Pay up
Posted on 26-10-2012 21:14 | By penguin
Send a bill to the offenders if proven to be responsible. Power companies do it don't they? Shouldn't be too hard for council to do the same.
Here's an idea
Posted on 27-10-2012 02:20 | By tibs
Mr Parkes, you've been responsible for a lot of signs when you meddle with the speed limits. All new signs around downtown the Mount and along Totara St thanks to your messing about. So efficient that the signs weren't even in place when the reduced limits came into force. Ditto on the Pyes Pa to Route K signs. According to his figures, 35-40 signs at $300 ea incl GST = $12,000 max. out of $390,000. That's also only 35-40 signs out of 12,600, not a very big proportion of the total number of signs, or of the total cost.
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