Road layout change leads to ‘reckless driving’

East Auckland residents are flocking to social media to express their fear over a “dangerous” road layout change near Beachlands.

A stretch of road running between Whitford and Beachlands called Siberian Hill previously had a passing lane, but on May 12, Auckland Transport converted the left-hand lane to a slow vehicle bay.

Beachlands resident, Brenda Smith, said this is now an issue as drivers take dangerous means to pass slower cars by undertaking on the left or crossing the centre line.

“I’m just so scared that somebody’s going to get killed,” said Mrs Smith.

Mrs Smith posted on Pohutakawa Coast Facebook community groups to gauge if other locals shared her fear about the change.

“Within three hours of posting, I had 590 replies that they wanted it returned to the original passing lane,” Mrs Smith said.

Mrs Smith said the number of supporting locals is more than 1200, and believes Auckland Transport is unaware of local needs.

“The population has increased out here, and instead of making more lanes open, they are shutting them off.”

Frequent road user, Madison Creed, agreed that the change has caused an increase in reckless driving.

“Slow cars don’t pull over to the slow bay, causing other cars to attempt to pass on the wrong side of the road or undertake [on the left],” Miss Creed said.

Andrew Gareth, an engineer from Auckland Transport, told Te Waha Nui they were “looking into it”.

Auckland Transport were asked for a comment on the changes, but did not supply a response by deadline.

Mrs Smith was told by the organisation that “an Auckland Transport engineer consulted with the community”, but said she and many other residents were unaware of the consultation process.