Signal is green for go faster
New Zealand is set to get its first 110kmh roads with speed limits going up on two North Island highways.
NZ Transport Agency has confirmed speed limits on the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (SH2) and the Cambridge section of the Waikato Expressway (SH1) would be 110kmh. The changes follow a consultation process in which the NZTA received almost 11,500 submissions.
The new limits will be in place by Monday, December 11. ‘‘Both roads were selected because they are two of the safest roads in New Zealand, with safety features such as median-barriers, no crossing roads, no tight curves and two lanes in each direction,’’ director of safety and environment Harry Wilson said.
‘‘The Transport Agency is committed to making New Zealand roads safer and reducing the number of people seriously injured and killed in crashes.
‘‘The increasing number of deaths on our roads is unacceptable, and the speed limit will only be increased on our very safest roads.
‘‘We are working to create a safe transport system which is more forgiving of human error, and for some roads this will likely result in current speed limits being reduced.
‘‘It’s important that people remember that all speed limits are the maximum speed for safe travel in ideal conditions – they are not the minimum, and they are not a target. It’s important that drivers adjust their travelling speeds depending on the weather conditions, traffic volumes and other factors. At many times on many roads the safe speed for travel will be lower than the posted limit.’’