Tired motorist signs up for road safety

ANNA PEARSON/Nelson Mail

READ IT AND WEEP: Philip Nicholls gets ready to tow Ladislav Filipi's car after he crashed through a fence and into a road safety billboard.

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Nelson police's road safety warning was rammed home yesterday afternoon when a man crashed his car through a fence and into one of their billboards on the Coastal Highway near Rabbit Island.

Ladislav Filipi, from Renwick, was returning from a three-day holiday in Abel Tasman National Park when he fell asleep at the wheel, losing control of his car.

He said he was tired and was hurrying home.

"I understand the sign now," Mr Filipi said.

He said that by the time his car hit the sign, it was going reasonably slow, so he was, fortunately, unhurt. "I am lucky."

Senior Constable Peter Carmody said the road safety signs were there for a reason, "but not for someone to knock over".

The accident emphasised the issue of fatigue when driving, he said.

"Fatigue has been recognised as one of the major causes of car accidents."

He said the accident was being investigated and Mr Filipi was likely to face charges.

- © Fairfax NZ News