Speed limit cuts would be a 'band aid', says husband of Auckland road crash victim

Tuesday, 4 September 2018

Christine Ovens, 56, died when she was hit by a car on Oteha Valley Road on Auckland's North Shore in April.

Christine Ovens left her home on Auckland's North Shore on the morning of April 12 and never returned.

Hit by a car while crossing the street, the nature lover and conservationist was killed. On average, one person a week dies and 14 are seriously injured on Auckland's roads.

Auckland's other 'crisis' is killing a person a week and injuring 14 others.

Sixty-four people died on the region's roads in 2017, up from 36 in 2014, while serious injuries have skyrocketed from 447 to 749 over the same three-year period.

Officials are calling the growing problem Auckland's 'road safety crisis', promoting Auckland Transport to fast track work to slash more speed limits. But not everyone agrees.

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While it is not clear how Ovens came to be hit on Oteha Valley Rd, on Auckland's North Shore, her husband Darryl Ovens said speed limit reductions were only a 'band aid' to a wider problem.

'I don't see it making a big difference, to be honest, and particularly if it is not policed.'

Living on Oteha Valley Rd for the past 18 years, Darryl Ovens said a speed limit reduction on the road, which were being investigated by Auckland Transport following the death of his wife and that of 15-year-old cyclist Nathan Kraatskow in May, would not address the real problem - too much traffic.

'I really can't see it making much difference. Only the consequences would reduce and accidents would still happen the same as they do now.'

In response to the rising number of deaths and injuries, Auckland Transport's (AT) network management and safety group manager, Randhir Karma, said lower speeds of 30kmh were proposed for Auckland's town centres and in the city centre.

The likes of Tamaki Drive, Sandringham Rd and Broadway, through Newmarket, are among 'high risk' roads being looked at this year for speed limit changes.

Meanwhile, AT's plan to fast track $24 million worth of work in a speed management programme will see changes at 10 per cent of high-risk roads in the next three years - up from the original target of five per cent.

The moves follow AT chairman Dr Lester Levy's comments in June that the board wanted to extend lower speeds through the region's town centres, outside schools not already in low-speed zones and along unsafe rural roads.

'One day no one will get killed on our roads,' Levy said at the time.

Between 2014 and 2017, the number of people killed and injured in Auckland crashes jumped about 70 per cent – from 483 to 813.

Karma said AT estimated its 'ambitious safety infrastructure acceleration programme' would reduce the number of deaths and serious casualties by about 150 - or 20 per cent - over three years.

Of the 64 people killed on Auckland's roads in 2017, 29 people were killed in car crashes where speed was a major contributor, Karma said.

Of the 749 commuters seriously injured that year, 186 were hurt in collisions where speed played a major role, he added.

AT was also proposing a bylaw change allowing it to 'set safe and appropriate speeds across Auckland'.

The bylaw would allow AT to set 'appropriate speeds' along a number of high risk roads including Tamaki Drive, Sandringham Rd and Broadway – 'those are the ones that AT will look at first', Karma said.

'AT will consult on the bylaw change later this year.'

Other high-risk roads identified included Great South Rd and Hibiscus Coast Highway.

Numerous rural roads were also being targeted, including Coatesville-Riverhead Highway, Dairy Flat Highway and Matakana Rd. Rural roads could be reduced from 100kmh to 80kmh.

Overall, more than 40 roads would be investigated this year.

In total, $700m-worth of road safety projects were contained in AT's $28 billion Regional Land Transport Plan, which was unveiled in June.

However, a report being presented to Auckland Council's Planning Committee on Tuesday warned of 'adverse community reactions' to projects such as speed limit changes.

'There may be adverse community reactions to, or low engagement with, projects such as speed limit reductions, speed-calming measures and removing parking.'

'Delivery can also be impacted by consenting and consultation requirements.'

Road safety had also been a major theme of the Government's recent transport announcements, including during Transport Minister Phil Twyford's presentation of the latest $16.9b National Land Transport Programme last week.

New Zealand Transport Agency chief executive, Fergus Gammie, said while there was no clear target when it came to reducing fatalities, the Government was 'looking at … a year-on-year reduction'.