UPDATED: The roads are now clear and traffic is back to normal after a bus and car collided in Mount Maunganui causing major traffic delays along Girven and Maunganui roads.
The vehicles crashed outside Bayfair Shopping Centre were stuck together, blocking both northbound lanes of Girven Road for more than an hour.
The Bay Hopper bus and car are stuck together on Girven Road.
Police were called to the crash about 11.15am.
Senior Sergeant Dean O'Connor says the crash was caused by the driver of the black vehicle.
"He thought the bus was turning right, but the bus was indicating and turned left."
He says there are no injuries but the road will be blocked for sometime.
Traffic is backing up along Girven and Maunganui roads significantly.
Earlier:
Acting Western Bay of Plenty road policing manager Sergeant Mike Owen says all occupants are off the bus and the drivers of both vehicles and at the scene waiting to speak with police.
'Both northbound lanes are blocked.”
Mike says there was also a crash on Hamilton Street about half an hour ago between two cars.
'An elderly man has crashed into the back of the informant's car three times and they are just waiting to speak with police.”
6 comments
When
Posted on 03-09-2014 12:48 | By How about this view!
will people let buses complete their maneuvering before overtaking or worst of all UNDERTAKING, it's hard to imagine how hard it must be to drive a vehicle that big whilst only having tiny side mirrors to see what is going on behind you, particularly when you see the risks that some drivers take IN FRONT of the buses. I have seen for myself that Tauranga drivers can be so selfish and have no time for other road users, either letting them into traffic or waiting patiently for a few seconds. Can't wait to read the usual loony rants about bus drivers, as I was on a bus yesterday whilst the driver was being assessed by an examiner as is a usual part of their employment. When was the last time YOUR driving was assessed?
And how about THIS?
Posted on 03-09-2014 16:33 | By sojourner
How about the busses go through the lights after going left towards the Parking Garage under Bayfair and then right into the lane they should be in. Those busses are a danger and a bullying nuisance the way they come out of the parking area pushing their way into traffic on Girven Road. This is not a loony rant, thank you, it is just not safe, the way they come out of the outside parking area.
Hi sojourner
Posted on 03-09-2014 21:30 | By How about this view!
It is a loony rant, you should be taking a bus number and reporting it if it is dangerous! Oh by the way, how LONG and WIDE is your car? would you rather the buses inconvenience the odd motorist who doesn't know the road rules or have them bumping up and down over the odd corner here or there and knock down pedestrians or cyclists. Don't criticize until you sit in the front of a bus and watch what goes on with the MAD motorists. They are Buses not bicycles or shopping basket cars.
Usual Story
Posted on 03-09-2014 22:24 | By The Caveman
Old story, lanes designed for cars, NOT buses. If the bus is in the RIGHT lane, then the natural assumption is that its turning right, regardless of the "indicator". How often do you see a vehicle with an indicator on driving down the road and not turning (left or right as per the indicator). ‘Thus in a situation such as that above the "assumption" of an incorrect indicator is not unreasonable. If the road lanes at the exit from the parking area were wider - to accommodate the situation of buses wishing to turn left, could actually be in the left lane and not needing to cut from the RIGHT lane across the left lane - there would be no problem………….
The
Posted on 03-09-2014 22:25 | By Capt_Kaveman
Whole bayfair plan is a nightmere, bayfair itself is 180o around the wrong way, buses should be used in farm st only, The back which should be the front and the lights is another matter there should not be 2 exits entrys, this again is one of TCC past stamps gone wrong
bus in the right hand lane
Posted on 05-09-2014 20:41 | By vonnie
I too would have assumed that the bus being in the right hand lane would have been making a 'right hand turn'...I often exit from this part of Bayfair but never again if bus's are going to be allowed to turn left from the right hand lane...far too dangerous for me!!!
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