The speed limit on the rural section of Cambridge Rd could be reduced to 60km/h after residents warned that it was only a matter of time before there was a major crash involving a school bus.
Tauranga City councillors agreed unanimously to start the process of lowering the speed limit on the 3km stretch of Cambridge Rd from State Highway 29 to Moffat Rd.
They were responding to appeals yesterday by residents Paul Anselmi and Peter and Alison Fitzgerald who live on the road. They particularly feared for the safety of children when the school bus pulled over to pick them up and let them off, and when they crossed the road.
Mr Anselmi highlighted how his daughter narrowly escaped a head-on collision when she was waiting to turn right into their driveway. A truck coming around the corner was unable to stop and swerved onto the grass verge, with the trailer chipping her car and sending it into the path of oncoming traffic which managed to take evasive action.
"There are so many accidents and near misses - the 80km/h speed limit is dangerous."