Media Release: Waikato District Council, 28 May 2015
MOTORISTS ASKED TO PREPARE FOR GYPSY DAY
It’s a fairly unique part of the Kiwi farming calendar – Gypsy Day.
The first of June is officially the start of the new dairy season and has come to be known as “Gypsy Day” with a large number of stock and people movements on and off dairy farms.
Waikato District Council Road Safety Co-ordinator Megan Jolly says “With the increase of farm vehicles on rural roads, motorists are advised to slow down and be prepared for the unexpected.
“Statistics show that over the last five years in Waikato district, 26% of crashes are speed related and most of these crashes occurred on rural roads.”
She says driver speed should be determined by the physical conditions and environment of the road.
“Rural roads are often windy, narrow, have no shoulder and hazards such as power poles and loose metal situated close to the road edge. Remember 100kph is not a target.
“The safer speed is often a lot less on our rural roads so our message to all drivers is slow down; concentrate and watch out for stock and slow vehicles.”