10 May 2016

Truckies warned off Northland crash meeting

7:58 am on 10 May 2016

Log truck drivers have been told to stay away from a public meeting in Whangarei about the number of crashes on a Northland road.

A recent log truck rollover in the same spot on Otaika Valley Road.

An overturned trailer unit on Otaika Valley Road, where residents are calling for a lower speed limit. Photo: Supplied

Five log trucks have rolled in the past month on Otaika Valley Road and residents are calling for the authorities to step in and lower the speed limit on bends.

One of the organisers of tonight's meeting, Albie Barr of the Rail and Maritime Union, said some truckies had been threatening on social media to disrupt the meeting.

Having "a bunch of hot-headed drivers thinking everyone's picking on them" would not be constructive and the union has offered to arrange a separate meeting.

"There's people asking us if we're prepared to to meet with the logging truck drivers.

"I think that's appropriate - there's always two sides to the story - the truckies themselves will be able to come forward and just tell us some of the issues they're facing in the industry."

Mr Barr said police and roading authorities would be speaking at the 7pm meeting in Otaika Valley .

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