Slow driver clogs highway

A man enjoying a leisurely drive in the Coromandel sun was oblivious to the traffic chaos he was causing behind him, Waikato’s top cop says.

Mercury (transport) square Mars (transport problems, accident proneness) trine Admetos (encountering delays, blockages, frustrations, inertia, slow motion).

A line of between 50 to 70 cars was backing up behind the man as he drove along State Highway 25 from Waihi to Whangamata at 25 kmh, district commander Superintendent Bruce Bird said.

Bird, who is travelling around the region to catch up with staff in holiday hot spots, was one of those caught in the back-log.

When he pulled the driver over and enquired about his very low speed the man told him he was “just out enjoying a drive in the sun and hadn’t given much thought about checking his mirrors”.

“We ask people to drive in a considerate manner, check your mirrors and where safe, pull over and allow other motorists to pass.”

Bird said there were also a lot of boats and caravans being towed, with the intersections of SH1 and SH29 at Piarere and the intersection with SH2 and SH26 particularly busy.

While “slow, inconsiderate drivers” were a problem on the east coast, it was those with a taste for alcohol, speed and stolen cars that were coming to the attention of officers in the Western Waikato.

On Tuesday a car took off from police in Huntly after they tried to pull it over after the driver failed to give way.

“Pulling the car over, the sergeant approached and noticed that along with the 19-year-old woman driving, there were four other females in the car but before he could speak to them the driver sped off.

"While a pursuit of the fleeing driver was initiated, the sergeant quickly abandoned it due to the nature of the woman’s driving.”

The car was located abandoned at an unoccupied property nearby. It had been stolen from a burglary in the town earlier in the day.

“A responding police dog and handler successfully tracked the five occupants of the car to another property where two women were arrested.”

The driver faces a variety of driving, excess breath alcohol and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle charges while a 17-year-old passenger faces burglary and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle charges.

Read more http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/75524974/waikatos-top-cop-held-up-by-slow-driver-enjoying-the-sun

Shocking driver http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/news/75502673/shocking-driver-crossed-centre-line-about-50-times-in-35-minutes

Road chaos sees nearly 200 crashes - one fatal - since Christmas Eve http://www.stuff.co.nz/…/road-chaos-mars-the-start-of-holid…

Source: stuff.co.nz