A road safety charity believes a u-turn on a policy that's seen lower speed limits on some roads, will cost lives. The government plans to stop what it calls blanket speed limit reductions. The Labour government introduced 80km/h speed limits on some highways, and lowered the limit to 30 kays an hour around schools and some suburban streets. Transport Minister Simeon Brown says he wants a system that gets people where they want to go faster and he told Checkpoint he plans to introduce variable speed limits around schools that only apply during drop-off times. Caroline Perry from Brake NZ joins Lisa Owen. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6342930999112
Napier - Taupō is a blanket reduction to 80kph. For much of the route this absolutely makes sense but there are stretches where it’s flat, wide and straight. Crawling along these parts are painful. Would it be that hard to change the limits for these sections?
Moving all of SH2 between Featherston and Masterton was equally maddening. Most of this road is wide, straight and with good visibility
They’ve reduced it to 80kph but left all the side roads 100 so all the locals are now careening down these roads at higher speed.
The number of signs I went past on Napier-taupo protesting the changes was quite surprising, it was pretty clear the locals were against the changes. Similar story with the Wairarapa, I assume.
I also managed to wheelspin, on the road, in an AWD vehicle, in second or third gear. The road surface was in appalling condition.
My issue is with their approach.
Napier - Taupō is a blanket reduction to 80kph. For much of the route this absolutely makes sense but there are stretches where it’s flat, wide and straight. Crawling along these parts are painful. Would it be that hard to change the limits for these sections?
Moving all of SH2 between Featherston and Masterton was equally maddening. Most of this road is wide, straight and with good visibility
They’ve reduced it to 80kph but left all the side roads 100 so all the locals are now careening down these roads at higher speed.
The number of signs I went past on Napier-taupo protesting the changes was quite surprising, it was pretty clear the locals were against the changes. Similar story with the Wairarapa, I assume.
I also managed to wheelspin, on the road, in an AWD vehicle, in second or third gear. The road surface was in appalling condition.