Slower roads accelerated

SAFETY FIRST?

The wheels may have come off many a transport initiative – from Mill Road to the Harbour Bridge cycleway – but they’re still in spin with regards to lowering speed limits.

“Speed limits which are set too high can become a target for drivers to aim for, plus they can prevent the police from addressing those travelling at unsafe speeds,” Michael Brown from Auckland Transport (AT) said.

“For example, on Linwood Road near Karaka, where speeds were changed last year (2020), a typical nine-minute journey is around 30 to 50 seconds longer. But the changes will help to reduce the chance of someone getting seriously hurt or killed.”

Limits on approximately 800 roads throughout Auckland are affected, including more than 200 rural throughfares in Franklin alone. The revised speed limits vary; however, some reductions are quite significant – the limit for Ardmore Quarry Rd (for example) is expected to drop from 100 to just 40km/h.

Reducing accidents is the aim of the changes, but Mr Brown conceded they will merely ‘bring posted speed limit[s] into line’ in many cases.

“On 90 percent of these roads, many drivers are already travelling much slower than the current speed limit due to the conditions. In rural areas, that’s often because the roads are narrow and winding.

“While most of the changes we propose will simply bring the posted speed limit into line with the speeds people are already travelling, it is important that these changes are made.”

Regardless of whether the signs will better reflect reality, or new limits will have a very real impact on saving lives, it does seem clear AT has the backing of the general public, especially regarding roads near schools.

“Research shows there is strong community support for speed limit changes with 78 percent of people supporting speed reductions around schools,” Mr Brown said.

“Improving safety around schools is an area of focus for AT as well as central government. These proposed changes will help to make it safer for children walking or cycling to school.”