Some rural children might have trouble getting to school soon if nothing is done to improve a number of Far North roads.
Ritchies' Kaitaia-Mangonui operations manager Mike Swinburne said last week he had told his drivers that if a road had deteriorated to the point where their buses or passengers were at risk they should return to the depot in Kaitaia.
Mr Swinburne cited Whangape, Pawarenga and Dangen's (Peria) roads as among the worst.
![One of numerous spots on Whangape Rd where rain water has gouged channels in the the road surface.](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/M6DS5VOCOPHBTI2UXRUQXJWXUQ.jpg?auth=9b9fb9b0f0106d9dcd5872fdf04e9e27476f58c4e2253af4471f772029f12b15&width=16&height=9&quality=70&smart=true)
Water had gouged channels across the roads, slips had not been repaired, road edges were breaking away in numerous locations, while a lack of metal had made some places so slippery that braking was sas perilous.