Selwyn Times: May 22, 2019

4 Wednesday May 22 2019
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SELWYN TIMES
Fire rages, homes at risk
Motorists encouraged to switch off phones while driving
•From page 1
For using a mobile phone
while driving, drivers can get
an $80 fine and 20 demerit
points.
It is not illegal to eat or drink
behind the wheel, but if a car
crashes as a result of not paying
attention to the road, the driver
could be charged with careless
driving or careless driving causing
injury.
Distractions can also include
music devices, food and drink,
driving information screens,
other passengers or scenery, he
said.
“It’s a distraction because
you’re not in proper control of
the vehicle,” Sergeant Pickover
said.
According to the New Zealand
Transport Agency, pets
can also cause distraction.
To crack down on distracted
drivers, officers will patrol
on foot to look for distracted
drivers, and then pass on the
• By Anan Zaki
THE POPULARITY of two
community run events in
Hororata is forcing a rethink
about how often they can be run.
The Hororata Night Glow and
the Hororata Highland Games
are both run every year by volunteers
from the community.
Hororata Community Trust
executive officer Cindy Driscoll
said Saturday’s Night Glow attracted
about 14,000 people and
November’s Highland Games
drew a crowd of about 10,000.
“We’re not sure if we’re doing
it [Night Glow] next year or if
we will go biennial. We need to
review that, look at our capacity
and our community,” Mrs
Driscoll said.
“It takes 150 volunteers, five
days to set up and let alone all
the other stuff we have to do as a
committee to set up.”
The inaugural Night Glow
offending vehicle’s details to
a patrol car nearby to pull the
driver over.
The latest statistics breakdown
on distracted drivers
was last year, and the Highland
Games was launched in 2011.
The games also required a huge
commitment to run every year,
Mrs Driscoll said.
“So it’s about what we can do
as a community, we don’t want to
burn people out. It’s not all about
making money,” she said.
A decision on the future of the
two events would be announced
at the end of the year, Mrs
Driscoll said.
But that will not affect this
year’s Highland Games, which is
scheduled for November 9.
Meanwhile, the community
trust was “blown away” by Saturday’s
Night Glow.
Said trust chairman Richard
Lang: “Our vision was to create
a community event that was
welcoming, entertaining and an
all-around great experience for
everyone, we believe we have
done this.”
Strong winds meant the hot air
from 2017 was a “big concern.”
“When we see people looking
down towards the lap, it’s obviously
a sign that they’re on their
phone. It’s not rocket science.”
balloons could not take flight.
“Naturally we were
disappointed that we were
unable to get the balloons up for
the Night Glow due to adverse
wind conditions, however, the
balloonists put on a spectacular
and unique burner glow, which
when combined with the
fireworks and other activities
proved to be a successful
evening’s entertainment,” Mr
Lang said.
The proceeds from the Night
Glow will go towards building a
new community centre.
The trust aimed to raise
between $30,000 and $40,000 for
the centre. The proceeds from
the Night Glow are yet to be
confirmed.
•Tickets for the 2019
Highland Games are
available from August
1. For more info visit
hororatahighlandgames.org.
nz
CONCERNS:
Sergeant Alex
Pickover says
police are looking
for drivers who
are not paying
attention to the
road, including
those having
refreshments.
Sergeant Pickover said.
He advised drivers to switch
off mobile phones or to turn
it on “do not disturb” while
driving.
Crashes from distractions
nationwide in 2017
Deaths – 40
Serious injuries – 240
Minor injuries – 1187
Source: NZTA
“Make sure the radio is in
the right station before pulling
off. If you’re unfamiliar with
the route you’re going on check
on a map before you’re starting
the journey,” Sergeant Pickover
said.
“If people are struggling to
concentrate because of passengers,
ask them to settle down or
quiet down.”
Sergeant Pickover also
encouraged businesses to
provide employees with
Bluetooth devices in fleet cars.
•HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you
think more should be done
about distracted driving?
Email your views to anan.
zaki@starmedia.kiwi
Decision on frequency of events late this year
LIT UP: About 14,000 people attended the Hororata Night Glow
on Saturday.
PHOTO: DAVID BAIRD
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