Still no decision about SH6 speed
A decision on lowering the speed limit on the highway between Nelson and Blenheim has no date in sight.
Waka Kotahi/NZ Transport Agency wants to decrease the speed limit on parts of State Highway 6 from 100kmh to 80kmh, saying lower speed limits save lives. In the 10 years before 2018, 20 people died and 92 were seriously injured in crashes on the highway.
The consultation period last year provoked heated discussion about whether lowering the limit was the best way to reduce deaths, with many people saying it would have the opposite effect by creating driver impatience.
The NZTA finished collecting public submissions in November, but said last week it was still too early to estimate when a decision would be made.
Kaiko¯ ura MP, National’s Stuart Smith, responded to the delay by suggesting that the Government focus on upgrading roads and enforcing the wearing of seatbelts instead of ‘‘needlessly’’ trying to lower the speed limits.
‘‘People only respect the laws they can see a reason for. If they put a needlessly low speed limit on, it will be ignored, and then we will have dangerous passing manoeuvres on that road.’’
Smith said Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter, of the Green Party, was ‘‘ideologically driven’’ rather than ‘‘evidence driven’’.
Genter said the ministry received letters ‘‘almost every day’’ from mayors, principals and parents asking for safer speeds through towns, outside their schools, and on the roads they lived and drove on.
‘‘That’s why we’re upgrading over 3300 kilometres of our most dangerous roads with rumble strips crash barriers, and safer intersections.
‘‘This is one part of our Road to Zero plan – a 10-year comprehensive plan that moves us towards a people-friendly road transport system.’’
NZTA top of the south system manager Andrew James said NZTA was ‘‘finalising the analysis of submissions and technical safety data to be able to provide an outcome for this speed review and to then implement any changes’’.
‘‘As part of the speed review, NZTA needs to complete numerous steps, which include a technical assessment, engagement with local community and stakeholders, and formal consultation,’’ he said.
‘‘After these steps, if the decision is to change the speed limit, it needs to be gazetted in the NZ Gazette for the new speed limit to become legal.
‘‘NZTA will also inform the community of the change, including when new signs will be installed, and when the new speed limit will come into effect.’’