A Tauranga roundabout will get safety improvements after nearly three dozen crashes in six years.
By Ayla Yeoman of Local Democracy Reporting
But a resident who has had to fix his fence four times is "somewhat sceptical" that the changes will make any difference.
There have been 32 crashes at the roundabout intersecting Waihi Rd, Otūmoetai Rd and Cambridge Rd in Judea since 2020 – and most have been caused by driver behaviour.
Tauranga City Council is introducing measures to cut speed through the roundabout. Higher speeds had been identified as a problem, especially from the Waihi Rd west approach.
Transport strategy and assurance manager Karen Hay said the investigation found the roundabout's signs and road markings met standards and clearly indicated give-way requirements.
Crashes were mainly linked to "driver decision-making".
However, the council would introduce two lanes on the Waihī Rd west approach, install limit lines at the Waihi Rd pedestrian crossing, and refresh road markings throughout the roundabout.
The proposed two-lane layout aimed to slow drivers down, reducing the chance of crashes and helping traffic move through the intersection more smoothly.
The limit lines at the crossing would indicate where drivers should stop.
They would be set back from the crossing so drivers stop far enough away to clearly see pedestrians and pedestrians could see traffic had stopped before they used the crossing.
These changes are expected to be completed next month.
A Local Democracy Reporting Official Information Request to NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) found there had been 32 crashes at the roundabout since 2020.
Two resulted in serious injuries and seven caused minor injuries.
NZTA said of the 54 contributing factors to the crashes, 23 were failing to give way or stop, 17 were poor observation and four were proven instances of alcohol involvement.
It said 14 crashes occurred around the Otūmoetai Rd exit and 10 occurred on the eastern Waihi Rd exit.
Judea resident Chris Brazendale has lived on the corner of the roundabout for 16 years, and motorists have crashed into his fence four times.
Brazendale spoke to Local Democracy Reporting at the time of the fourth incident in August.
He said the number of crashes reported by NZTA roughly matched what he assumed, and the council had contacted him about the planned changes.
"It's better than nothing, but I have to say, I am somewhat sceptical as to whether it will make much difference."
Western Bay of Plenty area road policing manager Senior Sergeant Wayne Hunter said police encouraged safe and alert driving at all times.
He recommended avoiding distractions, driving within the speed limit and not driving impaired.
He said alcohol and drugs were a factor in about a third of all crashes.
"If you're under the influence, don't drive at all."
Local Democracy Reporting is local-body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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