Driver driving on the wrong side of the road – near crash

Whakatāne, New Zealand

7 Jan, 2026 - 1 week ago - on Manawahe Road
At approximately 10:44 a.m., I was cycling on Manawahe Road in the direction of Whakatāne. I was accompanied by my partner, who was cycling immediately behind me.

As I approached a bend in the road, I observed a grey/ black Mazda motor vehicle come around the corner travelling on the incorrect side of the road, directly towards me. The vehicle was not overtaking another vehicle, and there was no other traffic present at the time.

For several seconds, the vehicle continued to travel head-on towards me without correcting its position. During this time, I believed a collision was imminent and began assessing how I could swerve off the roadway to avoid being struck. The vehicle only returned to the correct side of the road at the last possible moment, narrowly avoiding a collision.