As you travel along rural roads you will no doubt notice red numbers on white backgrounds at everyone’s drive. In case you didn’t know, these are RAPID response numbers and are described by SWDC, on their website (https://swdc.govt.nz/services/rapid-numbers/):
“The RAPID (Rural Address Property Identification) number will be installed by Council officers on a gate or mailbox at the entranceway. Your RAPID number is based on the distance in metres your property is from the beginning of the road. The distance is measured from the start of the road (to the nearest 10 metres) to the centre of the driveway to your house.”
On one of my forays I came across, in a somewhat random place, a road sign. Pointing one way to ‘Blue Rock Road,’ and the other to ‘Dry River Road.’ Precisely 36 metres away was RAPID number ‘158’ and 1.25 kms away was RAPID number ‘354.’ Not, as the rules state: ‘158’ and ‘1.25.’
If you’re not confused, I certainly was. So with the stealth of Inspector Clouseau and the inquiring mind of Inspector Morse, I went to work – starting at the SWDC offices.
“I think the road sign is in the wrong place, it bears no relation to the RAPIDs,” I suggested.
“No, no, it’s in the correct place, we use Google maps.” Without wanting to be unkind I suggested that there was a chance Google maps may be wrong.
“Well Google uses LINZ, Land Information NZ.” With such evidence I could see my reasoning was becoming flawed.
I suggested the two RAPIDs were wrong and therefore unsafe as an emergency unit would go to the wrong unsuspecting household and think that the reported fire was a hoax – whilst the actual house became a pile of ashes. With the intellect of Sherlock Holmes I suggested that the RAPIDs needed to be changed otherwise the midwife would miss the delivery.
I was told changing the RAPIDs would be silly, too difficult – and to do so would need meetings, committees, approvals and, no doubt, sign off by the Minister of Arts, Culture and Flags – which, in terms of bureaucracy, could take yonks.
With the sudden inspiration of either Adrian Mole or Donald Trump I hit on the solution.
“Why don’t we just move the road sign to the actual end of Dry River Road and the start of Blue Rock Road, at the junction. (Coincidentally, that happens to be exactly 1.58 kms from RAPID house 158, and 3.54 kms from RAPID house 354).
Problem solved. Easy as. Job done in ONE hour.”
With a sublime smile not dissimilar to an Associate Minister of Education saying the school lunch system is working well, that a marmite sandwich is good and a Health Minister suggesting that smoking is OK, I was told: “We can’t do that because it would be wrong.” As I understood that, sort of ‘rules are rules.’
On this one, all the Inspectors, detectives, Adrian Mole and Mr Trump had been beaten.
The meaningless road sign randomly placed at the top of the hill remains. All RAPIDs remain wrong, or the sign is in the wrong place, or Google is wrong, or LINZ is wrong.
What is correct? The intransigent ‘rules’ and the current sign placement.
FUN FACT: a doctor was called to an emergency at a specific RAPID number. On arrival at the given RAPID there was nothing there, so the Doctor went home – only to find out LATER that there was an emergency but of course it was somewhere else. Enough evidence that the sign needs changing to be of use, irrespective of right or wrong of Google and LINZ?
Safe and sensible. And maybe a bit of reasonable flexibility wouldn’t go amiss.
