Drivers Urged to Exercise Caution After Surge in Power Pole Crashes

Motorists in Canterbury are being advised to exercise caution on icy roads following a recent surge in accidents involving vehicles colliding with power poles. MainPower, an electricity distribution company based in Rangiora, reported that icy conditions contributed to four separate incidents in just three hours.

Damien Whiffen, acting chief executive of MainPower, described the impacts of these crashes as not only inconvenient but also costly and dangerous. “Each pole replacement can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000 or more, depending on the type of pole,” Whiffen stated. “And that’s before you factor in the social cost.”

When a vehicle strikes a power pole, crews from MainPower are often first on the scene, arriving before emergency services. In serious or fatal incidents, workers frequently need to wait for crash investigators to arrive, which can take hours, delaying repair efforts. Typically, a standard repair requires about five hours and involves a team of three or four overhead workers, along with traffic management and sometimes subsurface crews if the road or landscape has been damaged. In cases where a transformer pole is involved, or multiple poles are impacted, repairs can extend to ten hours or more.

Beyond the financial implications, these incidents can leave entire communities without power. “Medically dependent customers may need to leave their homes to access lifesaving equipment elsewhere,” Whiffen emphasized. He urged everyone to establish a No Power Plan, which is akin to an emergency kit but tailored for both planned power outages and unexpected cuts.

Residents should know where essential items are located, such as flashlights, and be aware of strategies like keeping freezers closed during outages. “A No Power Plan can save lives and greatly reduce the inconvenience of an outage,” Whiffen added.

MainPower also highlighted that drivers who hit a pole cannot evade financial responsibility. Those involved in the accidents will receive invoices for the damage, and if they lack insurance or are found to be driving under the influence, they may face personal liability.

“It’s not uncommon for drivers to flee the scene,” Whiffen remarked, referencing a recent incident on Powers Road. This ironically named road saw a driver take out four poles, disrupting power and services to multiple properties. “The driver was long gone by the time our team arrived, so that cost to repair is now socialized across the entire network,” he explained.

As icy conditions continue, authorities urge all drivers to remain vigilant and considerate of the potential consequences of their actions on local infrastructure and the wider community.