A truck driver’s dangerous and illegal manoeuvre has been captured on video after the driver nearly caused a a two-truck collision. Video / NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
A truck driver’s illegal manoeuvre at the Kenepuru interchange nearly caused a collision.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about dangerous driving and road safety standards.
A truck driver’s dangerous and illegal manoeuvre has been outed by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi after pulling a daring move that nearly resulted in a two-truck collision.
In a post online, the transport agency asked Kiwis “can you spot what’s wrong with the video?”
The video shows two trucks approaching a roundabout at the Transmission Gully Kenepuru interchange, north of Wellington.
As the first truck makes its way legally around the roundabout, a second black truck just metres behind is seen brazenly taking a shortcut by going the wrong way around the roundabout and cutting the corner.
As the first truck, carrying two loads, comes around the roundabout to access the on-ramp onto State Highway 1 towards Wellington, the black single-load truck is seen quickly cutting off the first truck and forcing it to slow down to avoid a collision.
As the first truck makes its way legally around the roundabout, a second black truck just metres behind is seen brazenly taking a shortcut by moving onto the wrong side of the roundabout and cutting the corner.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi described the move as “illegal” and warned drivers to be patient.
“To state the obvious, it’s illegal to go the wrong way around a roundabout to cut in front of people,” the agency said on social media.
“Be patient and don’t put yourself and others at risk. The number one rule is to drive safely.”
It is not known when the video was taken, but the incident occurred after the Kenepuru Interchange was completed in June 2024.
Truck drivers weighed in on the driver’s dangerous act, with one saying “someone got their licence from the Weetbix box”.
Another was critical of the driver’s actions, writing: “We don’t need this sort of driving in this industry.”
Members of the public responded to the footage, with many highlighting truck drivers’ responsibilities when on the roads.
“It shouldn’t be forgotten that truck driving is a professional occupation. Drivers are being PAID to perform ‘work’... that work being the safe driving of their vehicles. As such they should be held accountable to a higher standard of behaviour on the road,” one wrote.
The video comes days after a NZ Post truck careened over the centre line, smashing into the side of a tanker, causing it to topple and block SH1 north of Auckland.
Truck driver’s message after near misses
The footage is one of many of a string of near-misses on New Zealand roads over the past decade.
One Northland truck driver who had captured terrifying footage of repeated near-misses previously decided to speak to the Herald and share the videos because he feared more Kiwis would be killed on our roads.
The driver, who didn’t want to be named, told the Herald at the time his videos were evidence the mentality of New Zealand drivers won’t change any time soon, and that the then Government’s aim for zero road toll by 2020 was “laughable”.
“I put the video up because I got frustrated at the Government setting a zero target for their road fatalities. How can you possibly have a zero road fatality target when you have drivers doing what’s in my video? A target has to be achievable. It’s not a target, it’s a dream.”'
The truckie’s footage captured a terrifying moment where a driver crossed the yellow line and drove along the double lane on the wrong side of the road as a car in the opposite direction came hurtling through.
One driver was lucky to avoid a crash after the driver overtook a truck despite an oncoming car being just metres away. Photo / Supplied
Footage from 2016 showed a driver crossing a road barrier to the other side of the road to pass the truck despite oncoming cars.
Even trucks have been caught overtaking other trucks: the owner of the dashcam was forced to pull over so a truck overtaking him on the wrong side of the road wouldn’t crash into an oncoming vehicle.
“It’s not just car drivers who make bad decisions, a lot of truck drivers make bad decisions at the same time,” he said.
One incident shows a driver crossing the orange barriers and onto the wrong side of the road in order to pass the truck. Photo / Supplied
The man, who has more than 20 years’ experience driving trucks, believes the only way to lower the road toll is if the mentality and behaviour of road users change.
“I’ve come across a number of crashes and I’m just one, sole truck driver ... It happens quite frequently.”
