Emergency services attended a head-on collision between two cars on the Albert Town bridge crossing the Clutha River, between Wanaka and Hawea, yesterday morning.
The problematic bridge is an area of concern for the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), which is investigating installing safety measures at the one-lane crossing.
NZTA Central Otago road area manager John Jarvis said data about traffic user flows across the bridge had been collected during the recent busy New Year and January holiday periods.
However, the data was "yet to be analysed" and any decision about potentially installing traffic lights was still to be considered, Mr Jarvis said.
Constable Martin Barham, of Wanaka, said while no-one was injured in yesterday's crash, an investigation might result in charges being laid against the drivers of the respective vehicles.
"It is probably a give-way issue [between the drivers].
It is difficult to say, because there are no real brake marks or anything [on the bridge]," he said.
The cars had hit each other "head-on" about halfway across the bridge, but closer to the northern end of the crossing, he said.
Signs at the bridge indicate vehicles entering the bridge from the south have right of way.
The bridge needed traffic lights, Constable Barham said.
The lights would stop people "racing up" to try to claim the first right-of-entry for vehicles travelling across the bridge, he said.
"It causes an issue, regarding who should be giving way. [Traffic] lights would be the best solution, but the council and road engineers, they know the situation so it is up to them to get sorted," Const Barham said.
St John Wanaka ambulance officers attended to the three occupants involved in the crash.
A 47-year-old Wanaka man was driving a four-wheel-drive vehicle south, while a 49-year-old Dunedin man and his wife were in the car travelling north on the bridge, Const Barham said.
The NZTA is responsible for the administration of SH6 and the one-lane bridge.
