FAQs
Can I provide feedback on the speed limits you are proposing for different roads?
You are welcome to provide comment on the speed limits for other roads, however they cannot be considered as part of the development of this plan as others will not have a chance to comment on your suggestions. Any information on alternative roads will be collated and used in our next review of the speed management plan.
Speed isn’t the problem, drivers are. Why aren’t you focusing on them?
Even the most skilled drivers make mistakes. Most drivers understand that New Zealand’s roads can be challenging. Good speed management gives drivers the cues they need to judge the safe and appropriate speed for the road they are on. The Council is also actively promoting road safety with school children and through public education campaigns.
What is good speed management?
Good speed management is when technology, data, first-hand observation and local knowledge are used to inform interventions to make a road safer for drivers. This is why your feedback will help us understand if we have our proposals right or not.
Aren’t you just trying to lower speed limits?
No, we are using local knowledge and data to make sure we have done everything we can to make our roads safer. Our aim is to make sure that our local roads have travel speeds that minimise the risk.
Does going a few kilometres per hour faster or slower actually make any difference to safety?
Yes, it does. Speed can be the difference between a correctable mistake and a fatal error. Every extra kilometre per hour increases the likelihood of someone being killed or injured in a crash. Regardless of what causes a crash, speed plays a part.
Will slowing down mean that it will take longer to get anywhere?
Not necessarily. Research shows that going faster doesn’t save as much time as we think. Waiting at intersections or for traffic to move means total travel times don’t vary much, even if you drive 10 km/hr slower.
How do you make drivers slow down to the set speeds?
We are only responsible for setting the road speed limits; the policing of vehicle speeds is the responsibility of the New Zealand Police.
What happens after Council agrees to change the interim speed management plan, is it just a case of changing the speed signs?
Once Council has adopted the Speed Management Plan, it will be submitted to the Director of Land Transport for certification. Staff will then be able to start implementing the changes as agreed in the interim plan. New signs will be installed to inform the road users and the change will be recorded in the National Speed limit register. It will then be enforceable by Police.