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.

Celebrate cycling and win prizes

It’s time to get your workmates together and rediscover the joys and benefits of riding a bike, as workplace rivalry returns to Tauranga in February 2022 with the Aotearoa Bike Challenge.

The challenge is a fun, free competition that incentivises people to improve their health and wellbeing and win prizes by riding their bikes during February.

It’s not just about the daily commute, but exploring your neighbourhood, developing healthy new habits, and enjoying the outdoors during the summer months, even if it’s only ten minutes a day.

Aotearoa Bike Challenge is open for all, even if you haven’t been on a bike for years. As well as workplaces - clubs, groups, families, and individuals are welcome to enter too. There’s heaps of prizes to be won, including an eBike valued at $3,999 for one lucky early bird who registers at Love to ride before Christmas Day.

Council’s Workplace Travel Coordinator Yvonne Rooney says the challenge is an ideal way to connect with colleagues.

“Riding a bike has many benefits, and the Aotearoa Bike Challenge is a great reason to get back on your bike or ride more often. Year after year workplaces report a real buzz in the office, staff seem happier and healthier and there’s a genuine sense of comradery. Although the challenge doesn’t start until February now is a perfect time to get the team together and sign up, you might even win an eBike,” says Yvonne.

In 2021, 2600 people from over 200 Bay of Plenty workplaces got involved, collectively riding nearly half a million kilometres!

Aotearoa Bike Challenge isn’t the only celebration of cycling happing in Tauranga, with Bike Month returning in February too.

The Bike Month calendar is presented by Travel Safe and features free cycling opportunities that cater for all, including non-riders wanting to learn, people looking to gain confidence on the road, and experienced cyclists of all ages.

Tauranga has a significant network of off-road and shared paths and Bike Month is a perfect chance to explore them on a guided urban group ride or historic group ride. There’s safety and skills focused activities, events for families and children, and even bike maintenance workshops.

To find out more and to register visit Bike month.

Posted: Dec 21, 2021,