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.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

Community spirit shines bright orange

Full of excitement and sporting bright orange outfits, over 700 students from Tauranga and Western Bay primary and intermediate schools took to the streets of Mount Maunganui yesterday in the annual Road Safe Orange Walk.

Tauranga City Council Mayor Mahé Drysdale says the enthusiastic participants included Travel Safe and Travel Smart students, bus monitors, and road patrollers who worked tirelessly throughout the year to keep their peers safe getting to and from school.

"Road Safe Orange Walk is an opportunity for student road safety volunteers from across Tauranga and the Western Bay to get out in public with their colourful banners and show the community what a great job they’re doing."

"It’s wonderful to see the community, the councils, the police, and the schools all come together to celebrate road safety," says Mahé.

After a few words from Mayor Drysdale and Western Bay of Plenty District Council Mayor James Denyer, the students set off from Coronation Park at 9:30 a.m., greeted by cheering families, shoppers, and local staff who lined Maunganui Road as the parade made its way around the Pacific Avenue roundabout and back.

After the walk trophies were awarded by police to schools with the best banners.

The Year 7/8 Road Safety category was won by Tauriko School for their banner Stay seated stay safe.

In their accompanying description the students explained their rationale.

"Our banner is a crucial reminder for our community, especially as more than half of our students rely on buses for their daily commute to and from school. By reinforcing this message each day, we’re helping ensure the safety of our students while traveling. Staying seated on the bus is a simple but important action that minimises distractions and reduces the risk of accidents, making it a key part of our commitment to the well-being of every student."

Ōtūmoetai Primary School won the Year 5/6 Road Safety category for their banner YOLO click it, and the best banner for the Year 5/6 Active Travel category went to Omanu School for Walk don’t car, bike if far.

After the main event wrapped up at Coronation Park the festivities continued at Baywave, where the students escaped the sun and enjoyed a refreshing swim and a celebratory BBQ prepared by the police.