First responders clash over Akaroa highway speed limits

Wednesday, 17 July 2024

Eight people were in a minivan when it crashed into a bush off Christchurch Akaroa Rd (SH75) in 2023. Firefighters are divided on whether the highway’s speed limits should increase or not.

Akaroa doctor Howard Wilson spent two decades attending crashes on State Highway 75, but says it was reckless driving - not speed limits - that were usually the cause.

He’s one of several first responders in the community who want to see the speed limits Christchurch Akaroa Rd brought back up after Labour’s speed reduction policy in 2022.

Wilson was one of two doctors called to crashes on the highway between Little River and Akaroa from 1992 to 2012.

Wilson believed it was overwhelmingly poor, reckless, or intoxicated driving that caused the crashes he attended, not the speed limit. What the road needed was increased safety features, such as rumble strips and passing lanes, he said.

He shared his views at a community hui on July 6 run by National’s Banks Peninsula MP, Vanessa Weenink, to discuss the highway.

Dr Howard Wilson was called to help at crashes for 20 years. (File photo)

A survey run by Weenink found 73% of the 1600 respondents wanted the speed to return to 100kph on the Christchurch to Little River section of the highway. However, 83% wanted the Little River to Akaroa section to remain at 60kph.

Wilson said 60kph was a good speed for the hill section between Cooptown and Barry’s Bay, but from the bay to Akaroa it should be raised to 80kph.

The roads into and around Akaroa offer wide views of the magnificent harbour.

“If you’re driving carelessly, if you’re misjudging a bend, then you’re still going to kill yourself regardless of speed.”

He accepted drivers had a 75% chance of surviving a crash at 80kph, which dropped to 10% at 100kph, according to data from Australian road safety group Safe Systems Solutions.

However, “you can still kill yourself at slow speeds,” Howard said.

Akaroa Volunteer Fire Brigade chief Mark Thomson said many crashes he attended happened while drivers were pulling out of intersections, dangerously overtaking, or attempting U-turns where it was unsafe.

Little River Volunteer Fire Brigade chief John Genefass said people would speed regardless of the limits, but driving over the speed limit on an 80kph road compared to a 100kph road made a big difference during crashes.

“People take risks at any speed, but if we can lessen the speed, we lessen the risk.”

Some locals argued the speed limit changes made their commutes longer, but Genefaas said that was a farce.

“No-one’s that good at time management.

“You can pick apart every accident and say it’s not speed, but I think overall the speed being less [is] safer.”

Dr Ruth Spearing says the data shows the speed decrease on State Highway 75 must stay in place. (File photo)

Christchurch doctor Ruth Spearing, who also attended Weenink’s hui, said the reductions should stay because that’s what the data supported.

“It’s about human life. An average of nine people die every 10 years [on that road]. There were one to two crashes a week - that’s the data.

“If the speed limits are going to increase, it’s essential that other measures are put in place to increase safety, such as passing lanes.”

Speed was a contributing factor in 7.5% of the 739 crashes along the highway from 2011 to 2020, according to NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi crash data.

However, it contributed to 55% of fatal crashes: one in a 60kph zone and five in 100kph zones. Loss of control contributed to 77% of fatal crashes: one in a 60kph zone and six in 100kph zones.

Since the speed limits were lowered, there had been at least 24 crashes in the Halswell to Little River section, six from Little River to Akaroa, and zero fatal crashes in any section.