Police are urging tourists, photographers and social media users to avoid stopping at a popular roadside viewpoint in Taranaki after a series of dangerous near misses involving people taking photos of Mt Taranaki.
According to a report by Stuff, authorities say people have continued pulling over on Kent Rd, a 100km/h rural road near New Plymouth, despite clear "no stopping" signs and limited visibility caused by bends and hills.
Senior Sergeant Matt Prendergast said police had received multiple reports from motorists who had narrowly avoided hitting people standing on or near the road while taking photographs.
“Concerningly, people are ignoring the signs and have been seen lying on the road and stopping traffic to take photos of the mountain,” he said, as quoted by Stuff.
“We’ve had more than one report of people nearly being hit, and multiple near misses being reported.
“People are not only endangering themselves, but all road users,” as quoted by Stuff.
Police have increased patrols along Kent Rd and are continuing to move people away from the area when necessary. However, Prendergast said enforcement alone is not enough and urged visitors to follow road safety rules.
“We can’t always be there to enforce the law, so we are appealing to people to use their common sense and obey the signs,” he said.
“It is not worth risking your life to update your social media account,” Stuff has quoted.
According to Stuff, police are reminding visitors to use designated viewing areas and prioritise safety when photographing Mt Taranaki.
ISSUE
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