Illegal lane use causes crash

A 'blatant rule breach” is the cause of a crash at the Bayfair roundabout as police look to ramp up their presence at the intersection of Matapihi Road.

Police were called to the two car crash about 3.30pm after the drivers involved became involved in a debate over who was at fault.

Police are targetting motorists using the wrong lane to turn from Girven into Maunganui Road.

Western Bay of Plenty road policing manager, Senior Sergeant Ian Campion, says the crash was a non-injury and is one of a number police have attended around that intersection in the last few months.

'Once again a vehicle was using the left hand lane to turn from Girven Road right into Maunganui Road, which is illegal.

'It was that very blatant rule breach that caused that crash.

'This sort of driving behaviour has been the focus of police enforcement lately.”

Ian says drivers need to understand they cannot turn right from the left-hand lane when leaving Girven Road to turn into Maunganui Road.

'That lane is strictly a left-hand turn or for vehicles going straight.”

People caught using the lane incorrectly will be fined $150.

Police will continue to enforce correct driving at the roundabout in the coming months.

'The reason we are targeting that area is because of the increase risk of crashes, in addition to a raft of complaints from the public, who are sick and tired of dealing with people who won't comply with the road rules.”

NZTA recently confirmed a flyover is the best option to ease congestion at the Maunganui and Girven Road roundabout.

The $102 million roading project on State Highway 2, between Baypark and Bayfair, will see two flyovers, one which will take SH2 over the Maunganui-Girven Road intersection and second taking SH29 over the railway line and the Te Maunga intersection.

A shared pedestrian and cycle path from Owens Place to Baypark is also proposed as part of the plan.

Read more here.

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14 comments

Well

Posted on 24-07-2014 08:43 | By Capt_Kaveman

change the layout then, god with all the different roundabout lanes its no wonder people get confused and frustrated, the Baypark left lane turn right which is allowed is very dangerous.anyhow once the NEW layout is built Tauranga's un reliable traffic lights will be in place instead


Look at the road markings

Posted on 24-07-2014 11:35 | By bazandjax3

There are very clear road markings at this round about. This bugs me every morning while I wait in the right hand lane to go around the roundabout and these impatient people use the wrong lane and cause accidents! I hope the Police are watching from about 8 - 9am every morning. Bring it on!!!


Te Maunga intersection.

Posted on 24-07-2014 11:42 | By RML

What about this intersection then. I'm travelling south onto the TeMaunga Intersection and wish to turn right over the railway line heading for the recycling center. I keep in the left lane approaching and into the roundabout? This is so I am in the left lane once over the railway line to go to the recycling center.


just

Posted on 24-07-2014 13:45 | By Capt_Kaveman

to add who in their sane mind would use the right lane here to go straight ahead when the left lane is almost empty, anyhow i have sent an email to NZTA noting this has to change


@RML

Posted on 24-07-2014 15:54 | By Ty

If you are travelling south and want to turn right at the round about to over the railway lines then you must be in the right hand lane. The right hand lane is for straight through or turning right. The left hand lane is for straight through or turning left. If I've read your comment correctly...


Common sense!

Posted on 24-07-2014 16:10 | By Jenny S

It's common sense and quite basic safe driving to understand that you cannot turn right from a lefthand lane!Clear road markings reiterate this!Frustrating and I see people do this everyday and not only from this intersection.


Are we just plain stupid!!!

Posted on 25-07-2014 06:47 | By Sambo Returns

The road markings are stenciled on the road for a bloody reason!!!!.


Jenny

Posted on 25-07-2014 20:17 | By GreertonBoy

Probably the most uncommon thing these days is 'common sense'. I believe common sense was ended in the year 2000. Sambo,um.... I'm afraid so... from what I have heard, the road markings are disappearing under the vehicles too fast for some drivers to have time to see them?


Use this Roundabout All the Time

Posted on 27-07-2014 17:30 | By carpedeum

We use this intersection all the time and have NEVER EVEN SEEN( or been made aware of) the STENCILLED ROAD DIRECTIONAL MARKINGS- far too many cars and too much else to watch out for.....perhaps the solution is a VISIBLE sign on Girven Road saying NO RIGHT TURN FROM LEFT LANE ???


Right turns from Girven Rd

Posted on 27-07-2014 17:40 | By Pamaxx

We use this intersection very frequently and must say the painted road markings are (almost) always obscured by the queues of traffic. Please erect a sign on Girven Rd stating "No Right Turn From Left Lane" then motorists will be better informed. Max Lewis, Mt Maunganui


Oh yes, more signs

Posted on 27-07-2014 23:05 | By GreertonBoy

That's right, just a few more signs and everything will be honkey dorey. There are so many signs already! There are almost signs to say there is a sign coming up and the sign says "caution, this sign has sharp edges". If someone cant work out that there is a roundabout with 2 lanes, the guy in the right lane can go straight on or turn right, but the guy in the left lane cant turn right because the guy in the right lane might be going straight thru.... anyone who doesn't realise this needs to be off of the roads altogether. There are so many signs now, people have learned to ignore them, because trying to read them all is distracting itself. Next time you are driving, try counting the signs, bet you cant, there are thousands... too many. Learn the road rules, understand them! OBEY the rules!


Never been good

Posted on 29-07-2014 13:20 | By Difizzle

This roundabout has always been shocking it should never have been left without traffic lights the traffic jams are ridiculous and the fact one lane is overflowing and the other is empty just shows something is wrong with the whole thing


Not a Pom

Posted on 30-07-2014 17:18 | By maildrop

The driver at fault cannot be a Pom as this would never happen in England. I've never seen so many bad drivers as here in NZ. It staggers me how many people go all the way around roundabouts in the outside lane. Stupid doesn't cover it.


Maungatapu

Posted on 12-08-2014 18:56 | By swt3

the Police should be sitting at just every roundabout, especially the traffic lights. I've witnessed so many RED light runners its not funny. I was sitting behind traffic who had stopped at the RED light, & bugger me, a car in left lane deliberately flies through the RED light after looking & seeing no traffic approaching from the Mount side. What next. I was gobsmacked. This wasn't just a little Orange/red over shoot, it was a deliberate RED run away. He had NO intention of stopping. Police should be 'preventing' NOT trying to CURE the problems. Get some better teaching ethics out there. Make penalties much harder. And for all those woman drivers out there with a CELL phone glued to your ears, you should know better.


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