110kmh speed limits drafted for highways
A new law has been drafted that will allow 110kmh speed limits on some New Zealand roads.
The New Zealand Transport Agency announced on Thursday that its draft Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits (2017) would pave the way for a 110kmh limit on roads with at least two lanes in each direction, a median barrier, and no direct access to neighbouring properties.
Harry Wilson, the agency’s road safety director, said the Tauranga Eastern Link and the Cambridge section of the Waikato Expressway already fitted those criteria. ‘‘Other roads currently under construction, such as Transmission Gully and the Northern and Southern sections of the Christchurch Motorway, may also be considered.’’
The agency has identified 155km of highway across Auckland, Tauranga and Waikato that would be suitable for a 110kmh limit, subject to minor treatments.
In Auckland, those roads are the Johnstone’s Hill Tunnel to Lonely Track section of the Northern Motorway (SH1), the Upper Harbour Motorway (SH18), and the Takanini to Bombay section of the Southern Motorway (SH1).
The Rangiriri, Ohinewai, Ngaruawahia and Te Rapa sections of the Waikato Expressway (SH1) also qualify, as will the Longswamp section, due for completion in 2018, along with the Huntly and Hamilton sections in 2019. The recently-opened Kapiti expressway, north of Wellington, might also change to a 110kmh limit in the long term.
The agency is reviewing all remaining four-lane motorways and expressways to identify what work, if any, would be required for them to become 110kmh roads.
Wilson said that while changes may be appropriate where current travel speeds or speed limits are ‘‘clearly too low or too high’’ there were no plans for wholesale changes to speed limits.
‘‘Not all roads have the same risk, and we need to reflect that in the way we manage speed. The priority will be looking at roads where changes to travel speeds will have the greatest impact on safety or economic productivity.’’
Public consultation on the proposal will close at 5pm on June 16.
If it comes into force later this year, the agency will be able to begin the process of consulting local communities on changes to speed limits.
Car review website Dog and Lemon welcomed the move.
‘‘Modern highways are infinitely safer than roads of even 20 years ago, yet the speed limit has not budged,’’ spokesman Clive Matthew-wilson said.
But road safety charity Brake said it was concerned the increase could lead to more deaths and serious injuries.
‘‘Whilst we might have some five-star roads ... not everyone has five-star rated vehicles with all the accompanying safety features.’’
It urged drivers to keep within speed limits and drive to the conditions. ‘‘One in three fatal crashes in New Zealand involves a driver speeding or driving too fast for the conditions.’’