Haumarutanga rori - pakeke

Road safety - adults

The Travel Safe team work in the community to reduce accidents and improve road safety.

Young Driver Workshop

Free young driver workshops are aimed at road users aged between 16 and 24, who hold a current learner or restricted driver licence. Participants will leave with improved knowledge, confidence, and skills.

Each workshop includes:

A 60-minute one-on-one driving lesson with a certified instructor
Waka Kotahi NZTA roadworthy vehicle check (what to check to ensure your vehicle is safe and roadworthy)
Driver behaviour awareness (speed, impairment, restraints, distraction, and fatigue
Awareness session on sharing the road with heavy vehicles

Parents/caregivers are strongly encouraged to attend but it’s not compulsory. The four-hour workshops are held during school term holidays, usually between 9am and 1pm.

Drive has everything you need to prepare for your learner, restricted and full licence tests.

Visit the Drive website

Young driver workshop

Car Restraints

Looking for support around car seat restraints? Contact one of our local car seat technicians at travelsafeschools@tauranga.govt.nz. We offer free car seat installations, checks, and will help answer any questions or concerns regarding your car restraint.

Carseat installation

Parking behaviour

Drop off and pick up are busy times that pose a safety risk at the school gate. Travel Safe help schools to communicate things like parking time limits, drop off and pick up zones, parking over the kerb and other safety risks at the school gate. We deliver an in-school parking and safety programme named Peaceful Parker, and partner with council parking officers to do school visits when requested by schools or the community.

Blindzone Workshops

Blindzone workshops allow people to see the world from a truck driver’s point of view. Through a series of practical scenarios, participants will learn where to place themselves so they are visible to truck drivers and will leave with more awareness and confidence on the road.

For more on Blindzone and cycling around heavy vehicles visit Share the Road.

Blindzone workshop

Be Bright, Be Safe, Be Seen

This winter visibility programme reminds cyclists, walkers, runners, and scooter riders to have lights, bright clothing, and reflective gear if they are out and about during early mornings, evenings, and at other times of low light and poor visibility.

Whether commuting to work or school, being active for fun or fitness, or popping down to the local shops, people should take extra care and keep safe by being fully visible on roads and paths.

All cyclists are encouraged to wear high-visibility clothing and ensure their front light, rear light and rear red reflector are all working correctly and are clean.

View the official New Zealand code for cycling for more information.

Temporary changes coming to Cambridge Road/SH29 intersection

For people that live near or travel along Cambridge Road, some temporary disruptions are on the way during the school holidays later this month as part of the State Highway 29 (SH29) Tauriko Enabling Works project.

Work is underway on a major retaining wall at the intersection of SH29 and Cambridge Road. This is in preparation for a new, safer intersection with traffic lights, a key upgrade that will also include a new connection to Whiore Avenue for buses and people walking and cycling wanting to access Tauriko Business Estate.

Darryl Coalter, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) Acting Regional Manager Infrastructure Delivery says that great progress is already being made.

“We’ve already moved the power lines underground and we’re now ready to switch them on and remove the old lines and poles.

“To do this safely, there will be a short power outage and temporary lane closures. We’ve timed this work to happen during the school holidays to minimise overall disruption to the travelling public.”

Power outage and right-turn bay closure – Monday 22 September, 9am to 4pm

To switch on new underground power cables, a power outage is planned for both Cambridge Road and SH29. Affected customers will be notified by their power providers. During this time, temporary traffic management will include:

Cambridge Road - stop/go and a 30km/h speed limit.
Cambridge Road to SH29 - closure of the right-turn bay. Hamilton-bound traffic must turn left onto SH29, then use the SH29/SH36 roundabout to change direction.
SH29 - a lane shift and shoulder closure (westbound towards Hamilton).
60km/h speed limit on all approaches to the work site.
All eastbound traffic (towards Tauranga/Bethlehem via Cambridge Road) will be maintained.

Cambridge Road lane closure – Sunday 28 September, 9am to 4pm

Cambridge Road lane closure map

A closure of a section of the northbound lane (heading to Bethlehem) on Cambridge Road is also needed to safely remove the old power poles and lines on Cambridge Road and SH29. No power outage is required.

The lane closure includes a short section of road from the intersection with SH29 to 559 Cambridge Road. People should be prepared for moderate disruption. During this time, temporary traffic management will include:

SH29/Cambridge Road intersection to Bethlehem Town Centre - detour routes for Bethlehem-bound traffic are expected to take approximately 15 minutes via SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road (toll applies), and approximately 22 minutes via SH29A and Cameron Road (free route).
Cambridge Road residents - access from SH29 will be via the detours. We acknowledge the inconvenience and are committed to completing this work as quickly as possible.
The southbound lane on Cambridge Road heading towards SH29 will remain open.
Shoulder closures and mobile operations on SH29, with SH29 traffic maintained in both directions.

NZTA thanks everyone for their patience during this important work.

Work to upgrade the SH29/Cambridge Road intersection is expected to be completed in 2027.

The SH29 Tauriko Enabling Works are being delivered by NZTA together with Tauranga City Council, with construction by Downer. For more information, visit: nzta.govt.nz/tauriko-enabling-works

Image caption

Work is underway on a major retaining wall at the intersection of SH29 and Cambridge Road.

Posted: Sep 4, 2025,