Police crackdown on skateboarders

Jake Dobson uses his skateboard to get to work, but police will start targeting dangerous...
Jake Dobson uses his skateboard to get to work, but police will start targeting dangerous behaviour by skateboarders from next week. Photo by Mark Schneider
It is only a matter of time before a skateboarder is killed on Dunedin's roads, Dunedin City Council road safety adviser Henriette Rawlings says.

Dunedin police agree, and are next week launching a crackdown on skateboarders.

Under New Zealand law, it is legal to ride a skateboard on the road.

While skateboarders must comply with all the rules applying to other road users, unlike cyclists, they don't need to wear a helmet or use a light at night.

Because of the legal framework, police could only enforce the law and could not stop skateboarders using the roads, Ms Rawlings said.

"All you can do is educate people," she said.

Constable Chris MacAulay, of Dunedin Police, said skateboards might be legal vehicles but they were inherently more dangerous than bikes because they did not have lights or brakes.

He said there were no laws against skateboards on footpaths except where they were prohibited by the DCC.

The police campaign will be ongoing, with traffic staff targeting all dangerous behaviour by skateboarders - on the road and on footpaths.

Fines may also be issued.

While a skateboarder was more likely to injure a pedestrian on a footpath, they were more likely to injure themselves on the road, Const MacAulay said.

"Some skaters use the centre of the road and use the camber to get momentum - that's very dangerous."

"They should use cyclepaths where possible, ride in a position where they're not endangering themselves and be seen, because they're so quick and they're silent," Const MacAulay said.

"Bright clothes and lighting is just common sense."

Motorist Tim Mepham, of Helensburgh, agrees with that after a recent encounter with two skateboarders.

He was driving at about 50kmh down High St between 6.30pm and 7pm when he passed one skateboarder, but didn't see the other.

Neither had lights and both were wearing dark clothes.

"They tailgated me, going from side to side," Mr Mepham said.

"It was an amazing display of skill and guts but it would have been useful if they were wearing a high-visibility vest - it was the wrong time of day to be doing it," Mr Mepham said.

Automobile Association Motoring Affairs general manager Mike Noon advises skateboarders not to ride on roads and to wear a helmet.

He said skateboarders doing high speeds on longboards were a danger to themselves and other road users.

Jake Dobson (22) uses a skateboard for his 15-minute journey to work in the city from his St Kilda home.

He says he doesn't feel vulnerable and rates the danger of an accident as "probably on a par with a pushbike".

Mr Dobson said safety on a skateboard depended on the skill of the rider.

"It's about being in control," he said.

He has five years' skateboarding experience and said it took him two months before he felt comfortable and in control.

While he doesn't take precautions to make himself more visible, he is very aware of his position on the road.

"I'm always looking ahead - it's all about thinking ahead about what the drivers are going to do," Mr Dobson said.

He said he had seen a few "idiot" car drivers but expected people to look after him and drivers to be aware of him, though admitted some were surprised to see him.

"Drivers expect to see skateboarders on the footpath, not the road," Mr Dobson said.

- Mark Schneider

 

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