Meet the Safer Speed Champions and learn about the impact speed has had on their personal and professional lives.
Safer Speed Champion – Andrew McClurg, serious crash survivor
- Video transcript
CloseTimestamp Visual information Audio information 0:00:01 Andrew McClurg is seated and speaking to the camera. [Andrew] I believe no one should be killed or seriously injured on New Zealand roads. 0:00:07 Andrew is replaced with footage from inside a car, driving along a state highway. The day of the crash, we'd been out to a family outing in town and most of the family was in the car. And we were heading back out to the coast and a boy racer came screaming around the corner. We collected him, basically it was a head-on collision. 0:00:22 Back to Andrew seated and speaking to the camera. So combined impact 200k's an hour. 0:00:25 Andrew is replaced with footage from inside a car, driving along a state highway. The speed was the crux of it. Had it not been for the speed involved 0:00:31 Andrew is seated and speaking to the camera. we would have passed each other. 0:00:33 Andrew is replaced with footage from inside a car, driving along a state highway. Like you would normally pass on the road. And it's that that people need to be aware of when preventing 0:00:40 Andrew is seated and speaking to the camera. crashes that result in serious injury, death, and the carnage that follows. 0:00:46 Footage from inside a car, driving along a state highway. There are captions that read "Even if speed isn't the primary cause of a crash, it's what usually determines whether anyone is killed, injured, or walks away unharmed". [Light instrumental music plays] 0:00:58 Andrew is seated and speaking to the camera. [Andrew] And we're still living with the legacy of the crash today. In terms of the brain injury, you know. 0:01:04 Andrew walks outside through a door, carrying a hot drink in a mug. He crosses a small deck and sits down on a bench seat. Fatigues, memory problems, energy levels, this is 18 years later for me. 0:01:11 The camera pans around Andrew, still seated, looking reflective. This was back in 2003 this happened. So it's been a long journey to get to where I am now. 0:01:15 Andrew is seated and speaking to the camera. People's attitude towards speed probably does need to change. Because, I mean, you're better off a few minutes late than you are dead on time. 0:01:24 Andrew is replaced with footage from inside a car, driving along a blind corner of state highway, a truck is coming from the other direction. I'm a lot more cautious than I used to be pre the injury. 0:01:27 The screen fades to black, then Andrew is seated and speaking to the camera. People's judgement in different circumstances is different. So there needs to be a level that everybody can drive safely at. 0:01:38 Andrew is replaced with a blue background, an animation the Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency logo appears. [Light instrumental music plays] 0:01:40 The screen cuts to black. [Light instrumental music fades out]
Safer Speed Champion – Dean Harrison, serious crash survivor
- Video transcript
CloseTimestamp Visual information Audio information 0:00:01 Dean Harrison is seated and speaking to someone off camera. [Dean] I seriously think that no one should be hurt or die on our roads. It would be great to get to that stage where there were no fatalities. 0:00:12 Dean continues to speak, looking right. The fatality numbers are huge. You think about the grief that the family goes through. I mean, it's bad enough going through all the drama after an accident or a crash, let alone... A loss, you know a loss of life is huge. 0:00:26 Dean speaks more directly to the camera. It's a crying shame. I just think, surely there's a way we can 0:00:29 Dean continues to speak, looking right. eliminate or reduce the carnage on the roads. 0:00:35 Dean speaks more directly to the camera. I don't remember anything, but I've seen photos and been told about it. 0:00:38 Following a motorcyle driving on a rural state highway, there are captions reading "In 2015, while riding his motorcyle, Dean was in a crash that left him fighting for his life in hospital. He's still dealing with the effects of his injuries". [Light instrumental music plays] 0:00:48 Dean reappears, speaking and looking right. [Dean] They said I was doing 93k an hour when I saw 0:00:46 Dean continues to speak, looking ahead to the camera. that car, and managed to brake for one meter. So the speed at impact I suppose was 90-odd-k' an hour. 0:01:05 Dean looks right. Yeah, it's been a long road ever since. I've been unable to go back to work and the injuries were like, pretty huge. 0:01:12 Dean wears an orange high-vis vest. On the back it reads "Ride to Live Northland (ride safe)". I ride so much differently now. 0:01:15 Dean rides a motorcyle down a suburban street. The less speed, the less harm, the less damage. 0:01:19 Cut to black, an animated Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency logo appears. [Light instrumental music plays then fades out]
Safer Speed Champion - Ashley Johnston, Programme Manager, Northland Road Safety Trust
- Video transcript
CloseTimestamp Visual information Audio information 0:00:01 Ashley Johnston stands on a bridge over a busy road. It's raining and she is holding an umbrella. She speaks to the camera. [Ashley] Kia ora I'm Ashley Johnston and I'm the Programme Manager for the Northland Road Safety Trust in Whangārei. 0:00:07 The camera pans behind Ashley as she looks out over the bridge at the road beneath her. The Trust's position is that 0:00:10 The camera is to Ashley's right as she continues to look at the road. nobody should die 0:00:11 The camera shows Ashley's perspective, a large truck drives along the road towards the bridge. or be seriously injured on our roads. 0:00:13 Ashley stands on the bridge, speaking to the camera. The higher the speed, the less forgiving 0:00:15 Footage from inside a car travelling along a state highway. There's lots of cars coming from the opposite direction. It's raining and the windscreen wipers pass intermittently. when you have an accident.
There are roads in Northland and highways in Northland that are not suitable to be driven at 100k's.
0:00:22 Footage from inside a car travelling along a state highway. There's lots of cars coming from the opposite direction. It's raining and the windscreen wipers pass intermittently. Lowering the speed limit will prevent deaths and serious injuries on our roads.
0:00:30 Footage from inside a car travelling along a state highway. There's lots of cars coming from the opposite direction. It's raining and the windscreen wipers pass intermittently. We'd like to see speed limits that do prevent deaths and serious injuries on our roads.
It's really important to understand the end goal here
0:00:37 Footage from inside a car drives along the road and under the bridge that Ashley is standing on. is not to hold-up people or hold-up people's time 0:00:39 The camera switches to show the bridge passing into the distance out of the rear windscreen. The screen fades to black. or cause congestion or anything like that. The end goal is to keep everyone safe in our community and that's something we're really passionate about. 0:00:47 An animated Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency logo appears. [Light instrumental music plays then fades out]
Safer Speed Champion – Kimberley Rope Battcher, Board of Trustees member, Ruawai College
- Video transcript
CloseTimestamp Visual information Audio information 0:00:01 The camera sweeps over a roof. As it moves backward, it's revealed to Ruawai College. [Kimberley] Here at Ruawai College we have across the road 0:00:06 The camera changes angle and drifts towards a road which separates two schools. Ruawai Kindergarten and Ruawai Primary School. And currently 0:00:12 A woman walks towards the roadside. the speed limit outside our schools is 80km an hour. This is a real concern for us and our students. 0:00:16 Kimberley stands in front of the Ruawai College noticeboard, which reads "Welcome back for Term 2", and crosses her arms. A caption reads "Kimberley Rope-Battchet, Ruawai College Board of Trustees" [Light instrumental music plays] 0:00:20 The camera is above the Ruawai schools and SH12. A car drives along the road. A caption reads "During the engagement stage of the Te Tai Tokerau Northland speed review in 2021, Ruawai College made a submission expressing their concern at the current speed limit outside their school on State Highway 12". [Light instrumental music plays] 0:00:30 Kimberley stands beside the road, speaking to the camera. Yeah, basically it's too fast. Because, to our right we have a blind corner 0:00:35 Footage from inside a car driving along the blind corner approaching the schools. and then it stretches out to a 100k zone 0:00:38 The blind corner footage fades into a shot approaching and passing the 100km zone. approximately 200m down the road 0:00:42 Kimberley stands beside the road, speaking to the camera. and so a lot of traffic see that 100 metre sign and just absolutely floor it past here. 0:00:46 The camera reverses along the road outside Ruawai College as a car drives past. [Light instrumental music plays] 0:00:49 Kimberley stands beside the road, speaking to the camera. Our submission asked for the possibility of a lowered speed limit outside our learning centres. 0:00:55 Kimberley stands beside the school noticeboard sign, watching the road, as the camera pans around her. The 80km is far too fast. 0:00:58 Kimberley stands beside the road, speaking to the camera. And we also have parked buses. So our kids are being dropped-off and picked-up. So our concern is that one day 0:01:07 Footage from inside a car driving on the road between the schools. a child may get harmed 0:01:11 Kimberley stands beside the road, speaking to the camera. I have witnessed myself a near-miss, probably about three years ago. 0:01:15 With the camera behind her and in slow-motion, Kimberley walks a small group of students out to and across the road between the schools. And from that near-miss, what we did was now walk our students across the road, and the primary school now walk their students back to us as well. Our hope is for a safer speed limit to protect our tamariki and our community. 0:01:28 The screen fades to black. An animated Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency logo appears.
Safer Speed Champion – Heather Simonsen, Practice Nurse
- Video transcript
CloseTimestamp Visual information Audio information 0:00:04 Heather Simonsen stands behind a barrier on the roadside, looking out onto the road. [Heather] My name is Heather Simonsen. 0:00:05 Heather stands with her back to the road and speaks to the camera. I work as a nurse at a medical practice in Ruakākā. 0:00:09 The camera pans behind Heather as she looks out onto a rural intersection. I believe that no one should be killed or seriously injured on our roads. 0:00:15 Heather stands with her back to the road and speaks to the camera. I would like the goal for New Zealanders to be that everyone can travel to their location safely. 0:00:20 Footage from inside a car as it drives along a rural road. There are cars in front and approaching from the opposite direction. I've attended two crashes recently. We were driving up to Coopers Beach one afternoon. 0:00:27 Heather stands with her back to the road and speaks to the camera. My two sons were in the car. My youngest son is eight years of age, and he was at an age where he could 0:00:33 Footage from inside a car as it drives along a rural road. There are cars in front travelling the same way. see what was happening to these people. So for him that was quite a scary time. 0:00:37 Heather stands with her back to the road and speaks to the camera. Traffic passes behind her. Since those two crashes, my husband and I drive significantly slower 0:00:42 Heather is driving her car, approaching an intersection and checking for traffic. and more cautiously than we have previously. 0:00:45 Heather's car travels along a straight section of a rural highway. A truck drives past from the opposite direction. [Light instrumental music plays] 0:00:47 Screen fades to black. An animated Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency logo appears then fades to black. [Light instrumental music plays]
Safer Speed Champion – Senior Sergeant Terry Phillips, Road Policing Team
- Video transcript
CloseTimestamp Visual information Audio information 0:00:01 The camera looks through the windscreen of a New Zealand Police Highway Patrol car as it pulls onto a highway. There is some oncoming traffic. [Background music plays]
[Terry] What I want people to consider is what a lower speed limit looks like. I just
0:00:06 Looking out of the back of another vehicle, the police car follows along the highway. The road is under construction, cones are set up on either side. encourage everybody to have an open mind towards our speed on our roads. 0:00:12 From the bonnet of the police car and through the windscreen, we see Terry as he drives. We may have different speed reviews or lower speed limits in certain areas, 0:00:16 The camera sits in the passenger seat of Terry's police car, and pans across Terry as he is driving. and our attitude towards it might not be the best, but we've got to play our part. 0:00:20 Terry gets out of the police car parked safely off the highway and stands in front of his car as the camera pans around him. Kia ora everyone, I'm Senior Sergeant Terry Phillips, the Road Policing Team Leader for Whangārei Kaipara here in Northland, I've seen too many deaths on this road. 0:00:27 Terry speaks to the camera. Behind him on the highway, a truck drives past. My family has been affected by a road death, so I know the impact that it causes families. 0:00:32 The camera has moved further back, and more of the highway is visible behind Terry as he continues to speak to the camera. I think the reviews are needed. I know we want better roads and that will come eventually. But what we want to do is drive safely and get everyone home to their family. 0:00:44 The camera has moved closer to Terry. The traffic flow behind him is heavy, there are "High Crash Risk" signs visible behind him. So, I believe that no one should be seriously injured or killed on New Zealand roads. 0:00:48 The camera looks through the windscreen of a New Zealand Police Highway Patrol car driving along a highway. [Background music plays] 0:00:50 The screen fades to black. [Background music plays] 0:00:51 An animated Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency logo appears. [Background music plays]
Safer Speed Champion – Dr. Chris Harmston, Surgeon
- Video transcript
CloseTimestamp Visual information Audio information 0:00:01 View from inside a car looking ahead as the car drives around a corner of state highway. Several vehicles are in front on both sides of the road. [Music starts playing] 0:00:04 Now looking out of the rear window of the car, travelling along a straight section of road. A white ute is following. [Chris] I believe that it's really important for drivers to drive to the conditions 0:00:09 Looking out of the front windscreen, a trail of oncoming traffic passes. and they may need to drive under the speed limit to drive at a safe speed. 0:00:14 The camera pans around Dr. Chris Harmston. He sits a table in a surgery theatre is his scrubs. My name's Chris Harmston. I'm a general and colorectal surgeon. I work at Whangārei hospital. 0:00:19 Chris speaks to the camera. The speed of impact in road traffic collisions directly 0:00:23 Chris walks through a doorway in the hospital. affects the injuries we treat. 0:00:26 The camera follows Chris as he walks through the hospital corridors. The higher the speed, the more severe the injuries that we treat. 0:00:30 Chris sits on a bench outside the hospital, talking with another staff member. The majority of patients that we treat with major trauma 0:00:36 Chris speaks to the camera. are as a result of motor vehicle collisions. 0:00:39 The camera pans across the outside of Whangārei hospital. We're receiving more severely injured, and more multiply-injured patients 0:00:44 Chris speaks to the camera. than we did previously. I hope that people in New Zealand realise that reducing their speed on the roads 0:00:51 Looking through the front windscreen of a car we travel along a section of state highway. will keep themselves, their family, and their friends safer, and reduce 0:00:58 Chris speaks to the camera. the number of deaths that we see from road traffic collisions in New Zealand, reduce the number of severe injuries that we see, and also increase the long-term outcomes of those people. 0:01:08 The screen fades to black. [Background music plays] 0:01:09 An animated Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency logo appears. [Background music plays]
