Search

Haumarutanga rori - pakeke

Road safety - adults

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

Be Bright, Be Safe, Be Seen

Pick up a free reflective backpack cover this June

To help you stay visible on the roads this winter, free reflective backpack covers are now available from Tauranga City Council libraries – while stocks last. 

These covers are a simple way to increase visibility on darker winter mornings and afternoons, especially for children travelling to and from school. 

As the days get shorter and darker, it’s more important than ever to stay visible on our roads. Whether you’re walking, biking or scootering, being seen can make all the difference in keeping you safe. 

Simple steps can help reduce the risk of crashes and ensure drivers can see you sooner. 

How to stay visible: 

  • Wear bright or reflective clothing 
  • Use lights on bikes and scooters 
  • Stay alert and aware around traffic 

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

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.nzWe 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
 

Related news

Students urged to stay bus smart with new safety campaign

A new video campaign reminds students how to stay safe when catching the bus to and from school, just as Term 4 begins and hundreds of students return to their daily school commutes.

The ‘Stay bus smart’ video, developed in partnership with Travel Safe and Ōtūmoetai College, highlights simple but vital behaviours that help keep everyone safe – especially during busy morning and afternoon commutes.

In the past year, two Tauranga school students have been hit by a car after crossing in front of a bus. Matua-Ōtūmoetai Ward Councillor Glen Crowther says it’s crucial for people to understand how to cross safely.

“Every day, hundreds of students rely on the bus to get to school,” says Glen. “It’s easy, environmentally friendly, and efficient – but it works best when everyone rides smart and stays alert.”

Ōtūmoetai College student Alliya, who stars in the video and helped write the script, says the students wanted the message to feel authentic and relatable for their peers.

“We wanted to spread a message that truly speaks to students. Bus safety is more than just following rules – it's about looking out for each other and keeping everyone safe.”

The video follows a group of students as they demonstrate key safety tips, including:

  • standing back from the kerb while waiting for the bus, to avoid accidents with mirrors or traffic
  • giving the driver space to pull in safely – especially when waiting in large groups
  • crossing safely by walking behind the bus, never in front, and always checking both ways
  • waiting until the bus has left before crossing the road, ensuring a clear view for both students and drivers.

“Bus safety is a shared responsibility,” says Glen. “These small actions can make a big difference in keeping everyone safe."

Travel Safe is a team within Tauranga City Council that delivers road safety education across Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty.

Three children waiting at a bus stop
Travel Safe leaders from Ōtūmoetai College highlight the importance of staying bus smart and crossing safely by walking behind the bus and always checking both ways.
Posted: Oct 6, 2025,

Related information

Staying safe on scooters. Information about staying safe on your scooter.

Tauranga City Council, Private Bag 12022, Tauranga, 3143, New Zealand |Terms of use|Privacy statement|Site map

Back To Top