A number of roads and suburbs across Auckland will soon see speed limits go back up with a new map setting out for residents which areas are affected.
The changes align with the Government’s new land transport rule regarding speed limits. The rule requires NZTA and local councils to restore all speed limits lowered since January 2020 on several categories of roads to their previous limits by the beginning of July this year.
Auckland Transport (AT) has now released an interactive map of the city, showing which roads will have their speed limits go back up.
The reversals include speed limits going from 30km/h to 50km/h, 50km/h to 60km/h and 60km/h to 80km/h.
A stretch of Te Irirangi Drive from Whetstone Road in Flat Bush to Ti Rakau Drive in Botany will be at the top end of the changes, going from 60km/h to 80km/h.
Several other busy main roads in east and south Auckland will increase speed limits from 50km/h to 60km/h.
These include parts of Pakuranga Road, Ti Rakau Drive, East Tamiki Road, Cavendish Road, Wiri Station Road and Roscommon Road.
A scatter of suburbs whose speed limits previously dropped to 30km/h will move back to being 50km/h. This includes parts of Ponsonby, Mt Eden, East Tamiki, Manurewa, Orewa and Lincoln.
A complete list of affected streets is on the AT website.
However, dozens of 30km/h variable speed limits will be introduced around schools. These new signs will lower the speed limit and will operate at the start and end of the school day.
Changes start in March
The new speed limits will be rolled out across two phases starting in March.
The first stage will see speed limits on some main roads reversed from 50km/h to a higher limit. Road signs will show the new speed limits.
This work is scheduled to be completed by March 30.
Starting July 1, stage two will see the rollout of variable 30km/h signs near schools. These will either be electronic or static signs, where the lower limit applies at specified times.
In January, Transport Minister Chris Bishop said the reduction reversals were “all about making it easier for people and freight to get from A to B as quickly and efficiently as possible, which will help drive economic growth and improved productivity”.
“Throughout the world, 50km/h is used as the right speed limit to keep urban roads flowing smoothly and safely. The evidence on this is clear – comparable countries with the lowest rates of road deaths and serious injuries, such as Norway, Denmark and Japan, have speed limits of 50km/h on their urban roads, with exceptions for lower speed limits.
“These countries have strong road safety records, targeting alcohol, drugs and speeding. Our Government has a clear focus on improving road safety outcomes with clear targets to ensure Police are focused on the most high-risk times, behaviours, and locations.”
Road safety advocates, however, have “concerns” about the reversals.
“We know high speeds mean more harm. There’s an increased likelihood of someone being killed or seriously injured when speed increases,” Caroline Perry, director of road safety charity Brake, told 1News.
She said advocates were concerned the new speed limits were based on the classification of the roads in the area “rather than necessarily what’s happening, and also what the community wants”.
“Previously, they were assessed so that the safe speed would be the lowest speed limit, and that’s been accepted. And now we’re seeing [speed limits] increase again.”
Perry said it was “quite startling” that many affected roads were around schools and residential neighbourhoods.
“There have been a lot of changes in Auckland around high-density housing and changes of use in some of those areas.
“And there are places where schools and communities campaigned for a lower speed limit and now may see it being put up again.”
Perry said that as the new speeds were rolled out, it was important for motorists to keep their personal safety and the safety of others in mind.
“So ensuring that we are driving below speed limits and to the conditions of the roads around us.”
