Healthy debate on speed limits
‘‘You can't rely on people to drive safely...it makes me weep how speed seems to be God in this country’’
The roading team at the Waimakariri District Council will have their work cut out to determine the best course of action when implementing speed limits around the Mandeville area.
The council staff were offered a wide variety of mixed community feedback when they held two onsite drop-in sessions this week.
The feedback is being sought in light of significant changes to the Mandeville community which has shifted from a predominantly large block rural area to an area of smaller residential areas.
There are three areas of interest, including Tram Road through the Bradleys Road, Mandeville Road and McHughs Road intersection, parts of Wards Road, Dawsons Road and Bradleys Road, and the local access roads and cul-de-sacs.
An increase in traffic volumes as well as the amount of new residential streets are all factors being considered.
The planned Mandeville retail development at the intersection of Tram and McHughs Rds is also likely to further impact the road network in the area.
According to latest speed survey data, 38 per cent of vehicles are already exceeding the speed limit of 100kmh on Tram Road west of Bradleys Road.
However while some are in favour of lowering the speed limits along the busier sections of Tram, Bradleys, Wards and Dawsons Rds, others are fervently opposed.
Pam Gardiner, who lives on North Eyre Rd, said it was simply a matter of people learning, and heeding, the road rules.
‘‘People need to read the stop signs, and actually stop,’’ she said.
‘‘I’m definitely not keen on it being lowered but I would like to see merging lanes.’’
Gardiner said as soon as she heard about the development’s entrance and exit plans, which are to come in and off Tram Rd, she was against the proposal.
People lived in the country for a reason, she said, and she felt strongly the 100kmh limit should be kept.
But Dr Richard Griffiths said for him lowering the limit was a no-brainer.
He was tailed regularly by people going over the 100kmh speed limit, and felt if the speed limit was 80kmh people would still go at 100kmh.
He had been on at the council for four years, he said, and having lived in the area for 15 years had witnessed his fair share of nearmisses.
Griffiths was constantly worried about the safety of his wife and kids and said the area was no longer country but suburbia.
‘‘With the new development you just can’t keep it at 100kmh.
‘‘You can’t rely on people to drive safely...it makes me weep how speed seems to be God in this country.’’
Feedback is welcomed on the proposed limit changes, which include the residential areas, before 5pm on April 10.
Visit the council website to find out more about the changes and have your say.