Paengaroa's newest roundabout could get additional road markings and signage as the NZ Transport Agency looks to combat apparent driver confusion.

The visual enhancements come after SunLive reported the roundabout has been the scene of four accidents in the past two weeks – the latest a two car crash on August 24.

The NZTA confirms it will be looking into adding additional signage including ‘roundabout', ‘no right hand turn' and line markings to the roundabout in the near future.

Mount Maunganui sales rep Shane Steenson, who uses the roundabout regularly, welcomes the additions after reporting a number of close calls.

About two weeks after traffic was diverted on to the new roundabout in May, Shane narrowly avoided a head on collision with a four-wheel drive vehicle travelling around the roundabout the wrong way.

'I had to take real evasive action to miss it and it was actually travelling at some speed.

'I came back to work on the Monday and one of the boys in the warehouse said ‘I nearly had a head on there last weekend. Same roundabout I was on my motorbike and a car came around the wrong way'.”

Traffic was diverted onto the new roundabout, replacing the old State Highway 2-SH33 T-intersection, in May this year.

The roundabout will be used by motorists travelling to Whakatane and the Eastern Bay of Plenty, Rotorua and the central Bay of Plenty, Te Puke and eventually Tauranga via the tolled section of the TEL when it opens in 2015.

Taking his concerns to Te Puke Police and the NZTA, Shane was told before any changes can be made there is a six month review period where the roundabout will be resurveyed.

Shane believes people traveling from Whakatane are easily confused when approaching the roundabout due to the size and elevation of the road, which gives the impression a right turn into the roundabout the wrong way is okay.

'Someone is going to get hurt or killed. The incident rate is too high.”

He says at a minimum large bold signage is required on the inner of the roundabout as well as markings on the road with bold no entry arrows.

NZTA acting highway manager Andrew Scott is aware of cases of driver confusion on the new Paengaroa roundabout and it appears the public are struggling with the new road layout.

The current roundabout signage and markings are not registering with some drivers, says Andrew.

He told SunLive that NZTA is looking into adding additional signage including ‘roundabout', ‘no right hand turn' and line markings to the roundabout.

'As with any new road alignment we are continuing to monitor the layout and look for options to reduce any confusion.

'We are currently looking at the opportunities for adding additional signage or line markings to assist drivers. Motorists are urged to drive with extra care while they adjust to using the new road layout.”

Acting Western Bay of Plenty road policing manager Sergeant Mike Owen earlier this week said the roundabout's layout is similar to any other, and motorists need to take extra care while getting used to the change.

'The arrows painted on the road are the same at every roundabout; I don't know the problem really,” said Mike.

'The roundabout rules apply but they [motorists] just need to concentrate a bit more on where they actually want to head, and go around the roundabout and exit where they need to go.”