We’ve recently changed the road layout on State Highway 2 over the Remutaka Hill.
This may change the way you drive over the hill, particularly when overtaking. Below is information on using slow vehicle lanes appropriately.
In March 2024, we replaced the passing lanes on Remutaka hill with slow vehicle bays. These passing lanes weren’t fully suited for the road, with many of them too short, with merges on corners, which can encourage high speeds and unnecessary risk taking.
Since changing the passing lanes to slow vehicle bays, we’ve heard feedback that this has caused confusion when using the new bays. We’ve taken this on board, along with completing an independent safety audit—and have made changes to improve the flow of traffic and safety along this stretch of road.
These include changing the slow vehicle bays to slow vehicle lanes which more accurately reflects the intent of the road layout.
All sorts of people travel over the hill, including commuters, businesses, and visitors. Our highways and roads need to work for everyone so that we can all get to where we want to go, efficiently and safely.
When you’re travelling slowly and holding people up, you must move into the slow vehicle lane to let people pass.
You can stay in the right lane if you’re not travelling slowly.
You can pass people in front of you when they’re in the slow vehicle lane, provided you have room to pass safely. If they’re in the right lane, you need to stay behind and keep a safe distance.
Regardless of which lane you’re in, merge like a zip when the slow vehicle lane ends.
You always need to keep a safe distance from the person in front of you.
Using slow vehicle lanes flyer [PDF, 190 KB]
Watch our video on using slow vehicle lanes:
