Most obeying reduced speed limit
Motorists travelling the NapierTaupō road under the new lower speed limit appear to be remarkably compliant, if speeding tickets are anything to go by.
The speed limit on a 76km stretch of the road (State Highway 5) was reduced from 100kph to 80kph at midnight on February 17.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s decision to reduce the limit was controversial and sparked opposition from road users, businesses, mayors and councils, who believed it was a bid to avoid improving the road to make it safe for use at 100kph.
Figures provided to Stuff under the Official Information Act show that police issued 30 speeding tickets for the month after the new limit was introduced on that 76km stretch of road.
During the corresponding period last year, 136 speeding tickets were issued.
Consequences for speeding drivers vary according to how fast they go.
Three motorists were fined $400 for driving 36-40kph over the new limit; two of them on the first day of the new restrictions.
Four were fined $300 for driving 31-35kph over the new limit. The most common infringement was driving 11-15kph over the limit, for which seven motorists were fined $80.
Eastern District deputy road policing manager acting senior sergeant Paul Ormerod said there had ‘‘generally been good compliance’’ with the new limit.
‘‘Police have received mixed responses from the public, ranging from ‘yes sorry, I just lost concentration for a moment’ to full-on abusive behaviour,’’ Ormerod said.
‘‘Drivers need to be very aware that going 121kph and above in the new 80kph zone will result in an instant loss of licence for 28 days – this has happened already and has been a shock to some motorists,’’ he said.
Police tactics had remained the same, though they would be increasing their visibility in order to achieve the Road to Zero strategy.
‘‘Police have utilised a range of tactics – from roadside conversations, a flash of our headlights, and enforcement – to educate and change road-user behaviour. There are pairs of 80kph signs every few minutes, so there is no reason why motorists would be unaware of the speed change, and they can expect to be stopped if exceeding it,’’ Ormerod said.