Editorial: Action needed before tragedy

The layout of the Tauranga Eastern Link can seem confusing for motorists.

It goes without saying that confused motorists driving on the wrong side of the road on Tauranga's Eastern Link are a tragedy waiting to happen.

On Tuesday, an elderly driver was spotted driving on the wrong side of the road - the fifth driver to do so since the expressway opened two months ago.

Luck, it appears, is the only thing that has prevented a serious or fatal crash.

Three of the five incidents involved near head-on collisions and, in one case, although aware of travelling on the wrong side of the road an elderly driver continued on to the end of the expressway, police said.

Western Bay of Plenty road policing Senior Sergeant Ian Campion believes the drivers may have taken the wrong exit on to the Domain Rd roundabout.

It would have been terrifying for the drivers travelling in the opposite direction. Less than a month ago, Tauranga man Brian Sparrow was travelling to Te Puke on the new TEL near Bruce Rd when he saw an elderly woman in a car travelling towards him. Mr Sparrow is calling for drivers to be more vigilant and for bigger signs to warn motorists of the wrong exists.

"Because of the seriousness of the situation, [NZTA] need to put up tall, massive signs so that these people can clearly see they're on the wrong side," he says.

I agree.

I travel on the Tauranga Eastern Link most days. It is a fantastic, safe road and has cut travelling time.

It is difficult to account for human error but something needs to be done to minimise the risk of this happening again.

The New Zealand Transport Agency is looking into why the mistake is being made.

Hopefully a solution will be found - and soon.