Notorious Northland blackspot at Oakleigh left off speed reduction proposals

Wednesday, 17 July 2019

Speed limits are too high on the majority of New Zealand roads, the NZ Transport Agency says. (Video first published in June 2019)

Slower speeds are proposed for three Northland highway sections but a notorious blackspot has been left off the list.

The NZ Transport Agency is calling for feedback on a plan to lower speed limits on three Far North highways: SH1 between Moerewa and Kawakawa, SH11 between Puketona and Haruru, and SH10 between Awanui and Taipa.

Six people have been killed and 13 seriously injured in 167 crashes on these roads between 2009 and 2018.

But Northland's highest-risk area for crashes, SH1 south of Whangārei, was not part of the proposal.

The proposed speed limit reductions aim to reduce crashes in Northland (file photo)

* [80kmh speed limit 'like sticking plaster on disaster' highway south of Whangārei

](https://www.stuff.co.nz/northland/112326812/80kmh-speed-limit-like-sticking-plaster-on-disaster-highway-south-of-whangrei?rm=m)* Northland motorists lament lack of State Highway 1 progress in 'forgotten north'

* Woman who died in three-car crash on SH1 near Whangārei named

* Northland's drivers to blame for deadly crashes, police say**

Two people have died on the road at Oakleigh in less than a month.

Huntley woman Donna Hillary Blake died in a two-vehicle crash near the intersection of SH1 and Springfield Rd at Oakleigh on 19 June. A man has been charged with dangerous driving causing her death.

A three-car crash near Mangapai Rd on SH1 at Oakleigh on Sunday killed Aucklander Jodee-Anne Genevieve Redmond, 55.

Northland Regional Transport Committee chairman John Bain says lowered speed limits should be a temporary measure until Northland's highways are brought up to standard.

A third, non-fatal crash by the Oakleigh service station on Monday had people calling for the speed limit to be lowered.

Members of the Facebook page, Cop Stops - Whangārei, said the spot was notorious for crashes, and the speed should be lowered to 80kmh or even 70kmh.

'Perhaps people [should] have a sign 'kill me here' on their cars,' one person said.

Northland Regional Transport Committee chairman John Bain said reducing the speed limit at Oakleigh would be a good temporary measure to 'reduce the mayhem that has been caused on the road'.

But the reality was the road needed to be upgraded to a four-lane highway - a project which was deferred in October in favour of extensive safety upgrades.

'Whangārei to Marsden Point was designated as the most important road by all four councils in Northland and for that reason we feel aggrieved that we see another fatality there,' Bain said.

NZTA said it was working on safety improvements for SH1 south of Whangārei, including separating northbound and southbound traffic, eliminating sharp bends and providing safe opportunities for passing.

One example was the electronic speed signs installed at SH1/Mangapai Rd intersection at Oakleigh, which automatically reduces the speed limit from 100kmh to 60kmh when vehicles turn on or off the highway.

As for the other highways, Bain agreed a lower speed limit was a good temporary measure until the roads were brought up to scratch.

But he said state highways should be built to a standard where they can be driven at 100kmh.

'I forever live in hope that somebody in the realms of roading experts recognise that Northland has been left behind for a number of decades,' he said.

PROPOSED SPEED LIMITS

NZTA proposes reducing the speed limit on SH1 from 100kmh to 80kmh between Kawakawa to just before Moerewa, and from 70kmh to 50kmh in Moerewa from Mac's Prime Meats to Leaity St.

The second proposal is to reduce the speed limit on SH11 from 100kmh to 80kmh between Puketona and Haruru, and from 70kmh to 60kmh through Haruru Falls.

The longest stretch proposed is on SH10 from Awanui to Taipa, where the speed limit is proposed to drop from 100kmh to 80kmh.

Feedback is open online until August 4.