The principal of a Rotorua primary school has called on Rotorua Lakes Council and the New Zealand Transport Agency to address safety concerns around a nearby pedestrian crossing he describes as an “accident waiting to happen”.
But the council says crash data shows an improvement in safety outcomes since the crossing was installed at the Springfield Rd and Otonga Rd roundabout in 2017.
“At 8am or 3pm down there, it is mayhem,” Otonga Road Primary School principal Gareth Cunliffe said.
The intersection became particularly hazardous during peak school times, when young children crossed alongside steady traffic flows, often amid poor visibility and distracted drivers, he said.
“You’ve got young children trying to cross the road, and then you’ve got vehicles coming from either direction, sometimes at speed, or utes backing out into traffic. It is a recipe for disaster.”
