Wardill described the rapid acceleration, engine revving, excessively loud, tuned-up vehicles, aggressive driving and cruising that frustrated the community.<\/p>\n
She said it happened daily, including weekends, at all hours and was most prominent downtown area around Maunganui Rd and Marine Parade.<\/p>\n
Mount Maunganui’s main street. Photo \/ NZME<\/p>\n
She suggested the committee create a preventative solution involving regulating traffic and controlling cruising behaviour.<\/p>\n
\u201cChristchurch introduced an anti-cruising bylaw. They used a co-ordinated preventative approach \u2026 [using] bylaws, signage and enforcement. It was very effective.\u201d<\/p>\n
She also suggested using street design features seen elsewhere, including pedestrian\u2011focused layouts, traffic\u2011calming measures and lower speed limits in high\u2011risk areas.<\/p>\n
She said the goal of the petition<\/a> and call for action was not removing cars from the Mount but to create an enforceable long-term solution.<\/p>\n \u201cCruising and speeding are dangerous and very upsetting to our Mount residents.\u201d<\/p>\n Mount Mainstreet manager Jay Banner said the \u201cgrowing\u201d issue was undermining the safety and experience of being in the town.<\/p>\n Banner cited two incidents involving boy racers that left his 75\u2011year\u2011old mother too afraid to walk downtown alone.<\/p>\n In one, she was startled by a vehicle, fell and fractured her skull. In the other, she was hit by a heavily braking vehicle.<\/p>\n Banner said the behaviour was persistent rather than isolated, with noise, fumes and aggressive driving deterring people from public spaces and affecting hospitality businesses, particularly outdoor dining.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is not about being anti-youth or anti-car cultural, but it is about behaviour, safety and ensuring that our shared public spaces are enjoyable and accessible to everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n He said boy racers could create an \u201cintimidating\u201d atmosphere that made people uncomfortable and, over time, could shape an area\u2019s reputation.<\/p>\n Banner asked for stronger and more visible enforcement, a consistent presence during peak times, noise and speed monitoring and clear, immediate consequences for dangerous driving and illegal vehicle modifications.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want a town that is vibrant, energetic and attractive, but we also need it to be safe, welcoming and comfortable for residents, visitors and businesses alike.\u201d<\/p>\n Council manager of transport system operations Shawn Geard said staff found the Christchurch bylaw had not been as effective as hoped.<\/p>\n He said they were waiting on the Government\u2019s Antisocial Road Use Legislation Amendment Bill<\/a> to \u201chelp give [the bill] a bit more teeth\u201d and to see how police would enforce it.<\/p>\n The bill, which had its second reading in March, will create new offences and penalties for dangerous drivers \u2013 including a new \u201cfrightening or intimidating convoy\u201d offence \u2013 and make it easier for offending vehicles to be seized or destroyed.<\/p>\n Western Bay of Plenty Police area commander, Inspector Clifford Paxton, said people were driving around the Mount peninsula \u201cfor no other reason than to be seen and heard\u201d.<\/p>\n He said police had done noise operations in Mount Maunganui and could do more.<\/p>\n Mount Mainstreet manager Jay Banner. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
Businesses on Marine Parade. Photo \/ Alex Cairns<\/p>\n