Police target motorists at intersections

Police will focus on intersections such as this one at Ellesmere and Tancred's Rds where a...
Police will focus on intersections such as this one at Ellesmere and Tancred's Rds where a motorist failed to stop causing a fatal crash last month. Photo: Geoff Sloan
Selwyn motorists appear to be the main offenders when it comes to not stopping at intersections.

A police campaign has been under way in the district for three weeks targeting motorists who fail to stop.

The overall statistics are not yet available, but the early stages of the campaign show local drivers are flouting the law, Senior Sergeant Dean Harker says.

“I think there has been a bit of complacency as a number of those we have caught not stopping are Selwyn locals,” he said.

“It is concerning because some people who are turning left at the stop sign are just rolling through the corner and others are just going straight through.

“Within an hour of monitoring some intersections, we are getting up to about 15-20 people who aren’t stopping.”

Motorists have been receiving $150 fines and 20 demerit points.

Senior Sergeant Dean Harker. Photo: Supplied
Senior Sergeant Dean Harker. Photo: Supplied
However, two recent serious crashes were caused by drivers not from Selwyn.

The campaign started after another fatal crash at one of the district’s intersections in mid-December.

A crash at the intersection of Tancreds and Ellesmere Rds near Lincoln on December 14 was caused by a motorist failing to stop.

Jyren Estrella, of Christchurch, 13, died after the vehicle he was a passenger in T-boned a southbound vehicle travelling on Ellesmere Rd. His parents suffered critical injuries in the crash.

On New Year’s Day, four people who live outside the district were in a car that failed to stop at the intersection of Hamptons and Shands Rds, colliding with another vehicle.

Said Senior Sergeant Harker: “Over the last few weeks, we have had a couple of bad accidents in Selwyn caused by people failing to stop.

"So it is a timely reminder that people actually do need to come to a complete stop.

“People should expect an increased police presence and monitoring at major intersections in the district.”

The campaign will continue throughout summer.