New Napier-Taupō highway speed limits prompt 'full-on aggressive behaviour' from some motorists, but fewer tickets issued

Thursday, 31 March 2022

Thirty motorists were caught exceeding the new lower speed limits on SH5 in the first month they came into force. (File photo)

Motorists travelling the Napier-Taupō Road under new lower speed limits appear to be remarkably compliant, if speeding tickets are anything to go by.

The speed limit on a 76-kilometre stretch of the road (State Highway 5) was reduced from 100kmh to 80kmh at midnight on February 17.

Waka Kotahi's decision to reduce the limit was controversial and sparked opposition from road users, businesses, mayors and councils, who believed it was a bid to avoid improving the road to make it safe for use at 100kmh.

Figures provided to Stuff under the Official Information Act show that police issued 30 speeding tickets for the month after the new limit was introduced on that 76km stretch of road.

Four motorists were fined $300 for exceeding the new limit by 31-35kmh. (File photo)

* Hawke's Bay council seeks legal advice on lower Napier-Taupō Road speed limit

* New lower speed limits for Napier-Taupō road 'won't be popular with everyone'

Better infrastructure and more driver training would be better than dropping the speed limit on State Highway 5 - the Napier/Taupō Highway, says Self Loader Logging Taupō owner Bryan Smith.

Over the same period in 2021, 136 speeding tickets were issued.

Consequences for speeding drivers vary according to how fast they go.

Three motorists were fined $400 for driving 36-40kmh over the new limit; two of them on the first day of the new restrictions.

Four were fined $300 for driving 31-35kmh over the new limit. The most common infringement was driving 11-15kmh over the limit, for which seven motorists were fined $80.

Deputy road policing manager Eastern District, acting senior sergeant Paul Ormerod said there had “generally been good compliance” with the new limit.

“Police have received mixed responses from the public, ranging from ‘yes sorry, I just lost concentration for a moment’ to full-on abusive behaviour,” he said.

“Drivers need to be very aware that going 121kph and above in the new 80kmh zone will result in an instant loss of licence for 28 days - this has happened already and has been a shock to some motorists,” Ormerod said.

Police tactics had remained the same, though they would be increasing their visibility in order to achieve the Road to Zero strategy.

“Police have utilised a range of tactics - from roadside conversations, a flash of our headlights, and enforcement - to educate and change road user behaviour. There are pairs of 80 kph signs every few minutes, so there is no reason why motorists would be unaware of the speed change, and they can expect to be stopped if exceeding it,” Ormerod said.