Calls to reduce speed
Calls are increasing for a speed limit reduction on Kapiro Rd, near Waipapa, with a childcare provider saying it is only a matter of time before a child is injured.
Nurture by Nature manager Christine Kira says the voice of the community needs to be heard
‘‘There’s been a noticeable increase in traffic. In my view this route gets used a lot to get into Kerikeri.
‘‘We would absolutely support a reduction in the speed limit, a 70 or 80kmh limit would make people take notice.
‘‘I do believe it’s a matter of time, with children being children, that one of them is hurt.’’
Kapiro Rd is currently 100kmh.
It has been the site of a number of fatal accidents with the most recent being a collision between a car and a motorbike on April 25, in which 53-year-old Kerikeri motorcyclist John Paton died.
In 2014 Kerikeri cyclist William Bayliss died after colliding with a car.
Kira says a reduced limit, signage and enforcement of the limit would help to reduce the risks.
The childcare centre has placed cones on one side of the road at the entrance to the centre, to encourage parents to only park on one side of the road when they meet the school bus.
In 2014 the Far North District Council considered making the speed limit 80kmh on Kapiro Rd after an assessment and safety audit was undertaken by a traffic engineer, using procedures set down by the Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed limits 2003.
Although Kapiro Rd met the rating assessment for an 80kmh speed limit, the council’s infrastructure committee declined the application to reduce it, a council spokesperson said.
‘‘However the recommendation of the reviewing engineer is to retain the existing 100kmh limit as it is considered that reducing the speed limit to 80kmh is unlikely to influence the driver’s speed or significantly improve safety and would not be consistent with other nearby sections of rural roads with 80kmh limits (Kerikeri Rd and Waipapa Rd).’’
The Land Transport Authority guidelines for speed limits are currently under review.
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