Selwyn Times: November 07, 2018

16 Wednesday November 7 2018
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
SELWYN TIMES
Your Local Views
Adequate police staffing levels vital
Selwyn MP Amy Adams
writes about the recent
homicide in the district and
Selwyn’s high crash rate
I AM SURE that many Selwyn
residents would have been
shocked by the recent homicide
in the district and the reported
involvement of gang members in
this incident.
While most Selwyn residents
are wonderful, law-abiding citizens,
this event is a reminder that
no community is immune from
the influence of gang activity and
criminal behaviour.
For this reason, it is vital
that our local police have the
resources they need to deal with
incidents and help prevent crime
in our communities.
Unfortunately, road safety
remains a major issue in our district
that takes up a considerable
amount of police attention.
As I mentioned in a column
in the Selwyn Times earlier this
year, Selwyn has an unacceptably
high rate of crashes, particularly
at intersections. Anything that
we can do to reduce both our
local and our national crash rate,
should be encouraged.
One way of approaching the
problem is to look at the reasons
for fatal crashes and see what we
ROAD SAFETY: Selwyn MP Amy Adams says the district has
an “unacceptably high rate of crashes” and anything which can
reduce them should be encouraged. ​
can do to minimise or eliminate
the risks.
Last year, 79 fatal crashes
involved a driver with drugs in
their system, compared with
70 involving an intoxicated
driver. These figures come from
testing that is done by authorities
following a fatal crash and
show that we need to get more
proactive in preventing people
from driving while under the
influence of drugs.​
Currently, under the Land
Transport Act, drug driving is
measured by an impairment test
that involves an eye assessment
and requesting a driver walk
heel-to-toe in a straight line. The
current method has some obvious
limitations.
Advances in drug testing technology
over recent years including
saliva and sweat tests have
made roadside testing for drugs
much more practical. Based on
this, my colleague Wairarapa
MP Alastair Scott submitted
Amy Adams
Selwyn MP
HOMICIDE: The recent death of a man on a road near Charing
Cross has shocked some Selwyn residents.
a member’s Bill which would
have allowed police officers to
perform roadside drug testing on
any driver who they suspected
was driving under the influence
of drugs.
Disappointingly, all three parties
in the Coalition Government
voted against this member’s Bill,
in spite of the Minister of Police
Stuart Nash previously acknowledging
the need to roll out new
technology to combat the
danger posed by drugged
drivers.
The voting down of a
member’s Bill which would
have kept our roads safer and
saved lives is incomprehensible.
If the Government saw some
way to improve the Bill the least
they could have done was to
send it to select committee for
consideration and feedback.
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Rolleston
Saturday 24 November
10am–12pm
Rolleston Community Centre
Market Kids’
Come along to Rolleston’s coolest kids’ market to buy or sell some
pre-loved treasures. Grab your unwanted toys, sports gear, books or
hand-crafted masterpieces and set up a stall to make some pocket
money prior to Christmas.
For children aged 8-13 years, caregiver required. Stalls $5 each,
register as a stall holder at bit.ly/kidsmarket18 by 22 November.
No food or drinks to be sold.