Safety Concerns Mount on State Highway 29 as Drivers Take Risks to Turn Right

Concerns are growing over safety on State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauranga, New Zealand, as drivers are forced to stop in passing lanes to produce right turns, leading to dangerous situations and near misses. Local residents and Members of Parliament are urging NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) to address the issue with immediate safety improvements.

Dangerous Turns and Crash History

The key freight and commuter route, connecting Tauranga, Hamilton, and Auckland, carries heavy traffic over the Kaimai Range. Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell and Bay of Plenty MP Tom Rutherford have jointly written to NZTA and Transport Minister Chris Bishop, highlighting the risks posed by vehicles stopping in 100km/h passing lanes to turn right.

“Having cars stopped in overtaking lanes trying to turn right while trucks and cars are racing along in all three lanes at 100km/h is an incredibly unsafe situation,” their joint statement said. The MPs noted a history of crashes involving interactions between high-speed overtaking lanes and vehicles attempting to turn right.

Residents have reported witnessing vehicles stopping in passing lanes, forcing oncoming traffic to swerve to avoid collisions. One resident described a harrowing experience where a driver attempting to turn right from SH29 onto the Kaimai Range felt she “thought she was going to die” as cars sped past at 100km/h in both directions.

Impact on Kaimai School

The dangerous conditions are also impacting attendance at Kaimai School, with parents opting to send their children to schools in Tauranga. The school roll has dropped to under 70 students, according to the MPs. Concerns center around the overtaking lane ending just past the primary school.

Proposed Safety Fixes

Uffindell and Rutherford have proposed several safety fixes in their letter to NZTA and Minister Bishop:

• Kaimai School: Remove the overtaking lane outside the school, introduce an 80km/h zone through the school area, and implement variable speed signs.
• Thorn Rd and Old Kaimai Rd: End the overtaking lane earlier and convert the disestablished section into a right-turn bay.
• Poripori Rd: Install a right-turn bay and, if necessary, move the road entrance further from the bridge.
• Soldiers Rd: Redesign the turn into Soldiers Rd to soften the corner, as the current sharp turn forces vehicles to nearly stop on SH29.

These concerns are supported by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s Kaimai ward councillors and the Kaimai Omanawa Rural Ratepayers Association. Ratepayers association chairman Wayne Lowry warned that a serious crash is “only a matter of time.”

NZTA Response and Ongoing Improvements

NZTA has acknowledged the safety concerns and stated that several safety improvements have been made on the route over the past decade. Additional line markings and signage warning of approaching intersections and turning vehicles are among the recent upgrades.

A 60km/h variable speed school zone at Kaimai School is scheduled to be installed before July 1, 2026. The variable speed limit will be in place from 8am-9am and 2.20pm-3pm, with the school able to activate the signs for up to 10 minutes on busy school days. NZTA project managers confirmed the installation is expected between March and April 2026.

Bay of Plenty Police District road policing manager, Inspector Phil Gillbanks, emphasized that drivers are required to pull to the left when turning right, rather than stopping in the middle of the road, but noted this requires crossing three lanes of traffic, creating another safety issue.

Long-Term Solutions and Community Involvement

Tauranga Deputy Mayor Jen Scoular highlighted that concerns about safety on SH29 have been raised for over 20 years, with numerous meetings held with NZTA. The Bay of Plenty Regional Transport Committee unanimously resolved to write to NZTA leaders, emphasizing the safety concerns.

Kaimai School principal Matthew Jackson expressed confidence that the new variable speed signs, with effective enforcement, will significantly reduce the risk to students and families. The school welcomes any further changes that enhance safety for all road users.