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Watch: Heart-stopping moment overtaking car narrowly misses head-on crash

Author
Rachel Maher, NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Wed, 23 Aug 2023, 8:35am

Watch: Heart-stopping moment overtaking car narrowly misses head-on crash

Author
Rachel Maher, NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Wed, 23 Aug 2023, 8:35am

The driver of a hatchback has been called out on social media after dashcam footage captured their dangerous driving, which almost led them to collide with a truck.

The incident happened yesterday morning on State Highway 4 at National Park.

Colin Baker, the driver who captured the dashcam footage, said a pilot vehicle had flagged him to pull over before a narrow bridge.

As he pulled over, a hatchback speeds past him to overtake him right at the mouth of the bridge, just as the truck was on its way over.

The video captures Baker issuing an expletive in shock as he watches the small car pass him.

The hatchback then slams on its brakes, narrowly missing a head-on collision with the massive truck, which is carrying a large excavator.

Both vehicles stop before the hatchback reverses to let the truck through.

Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency advises drivers to be 鈥渆xtremely careful鈥 when passing another vehicle.

鈥淵ou must have a clear view of the road ahead, to make sure you can finish passing safely,鈥 it says on its website.

鈥榊ou can鈥檛 fix stupid鈥

The shocking dashcam footage is the latest to show Kiwi drivers taking chances with trucks on our roads.

A truck driver聽聽of near-misses that he says he and his colleagues see daily - and told the聽Herald聽he wants 鈥渂ulletproof鈥 motorists to pay attention.

Peter Hughes, who operates the New Zealand鈥檚 Worst Drivers Facebook page, has over 17 years on our roads said the problem is only getting worse, despite the聽.

Hughes cast doubt on New Zealand鈥檚 ability to reach a zero road toll, saying that while lowered speed limits and wire dividers were 鈥済reat initiatives鈥, the onus was on drivers to change their behaviour.

鈥淵ou can鈥檛 fix stupid,鈥 he said, noting that lowered speed limits would not stop frustrated motorists from taking unnecessary risks to speed up their journey.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e still going to get people who are impatient and can鈥檛 seem to figure out that it鈥檚 two minutes later, or dead.鈥

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