Proposed speed limits of 120kph a ‘huge step backwards’

Thursday, 13 June 2024

Reduced speeds outside schools will need to be variable in the coalition government’s new Land Transport Rule that was released for public consultation on Thursday.

The coalition’s promise to reverse Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions by July 2025 has sparked mixed reactions.

All speed limit reductions introduced since 2020 on local streets including outside schools and rural state highways could be scrapped, and speeds of 120kph could be allowed on roads of national significance built to accommodate that speed.

Road safety charity Brake said the draft rule would be a “huge step backwards” for road safety, likely resulting in more road trauma and costing the economy more.

“Speed is a critical factor in all road crashes and casualties. The faster you’re travelling, the greater your stopping distance is, the less time you have to react to an unexpected hazard, and the bigger the impact in the event of a crash. In many crashes this is the difference between life and death,” director Caroline Perry said.

Of particular concern were proposals to remove existing lower speed residential zones around schools and revert to variable speed limits around school gates - where the maximum speed can change at certain times of the day.

Transporting New Zealand Ia Ara Aotearoa welcomed the move.

A proposed speed limit rule will allow driving up to 120kmh on roads of national significance, as long as they are built for it. (File photo)

Dropping speeds had caused frustration and confusion, chief executive Dom Kalasih said.

The organisation supported lower speed limits in areas with high crash histories, and variable speed limits outside schools during pick-up and drop-off times.

“But where roads are built to a high standard, such as Transmission Gully in Wellington and the Waikato Expressway, 110kph for cars seems absolutely sensible.”

The government is asking for public feedback on the plans.

Speed limits that had been reduced since the start of 2020 would have to be reversed on local streets, arterial roads, and state highways. Variable speed limits would be required outside schools during pick up and drop off times.

“Local streets outside a school will be required to have a 30kph variable speed limit during school travel times,” transport minister Simeon Brown said.

“Rural roads that are outside schools will be required to have variable speed limits of 60kph or less.”

A speed limit of 110kph on new and existing roads of national significance built to a high standard would be imposed.

The plan will allow for limits of up to 120kph on roads of national significance that are built to accommodate that speed.

“The previous government's untargeted approach slowed Kiwis and the economy down, rather than targeting high crash areas of the network,” Brown said.