Speeds cut near schools
Changes will take about 10 years to put in place but Govt says children will be safer
New speed limits near all schools should make it safer for children walking or biking to class, says Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter.
A new 40km/h speed limit will apply past all urban schools, and 60km/h passing rural schools — although it could take up to 10 years for the changes to be rolled out in some areas.
Some schools already have lower speed limits in place but the rules are not consistent across New Zealand.
Genter announced the changes yesterday at wairaka District School in Auckland.
“On busy urban arterials and rural roads, lower speeds would primarily operate during drop-off and pick-up time only, using electronic variable speed limit signs,” Genter said.
“On residential urban streets, permanent speed changes would be supported by street improvements like wider footpaths and raised pedestrian crossings.
“In rural areas, a 60 km/h limit outside schools will make it safer for parents and kids walking and driving in and out of the school gate.
“School speed changes will be implemented progressively, working with councils over the coming decade.”
Genter said many parents would like their kids to get to school on their own but were worried about fastmoving traffic.
“Safer speeds around schools is proven to make streets safer, more attractive and more accessible for children to walk and cycle.”
Living Street Aotearoa, which advocates for more kids to walk to school, welcomed the announcement, saying research consistently showed most students wanted to walk to school, not be driven.
The group wants more than 50 per cent of kids to be walking all or part of the way to school by 2025.
It has advocated for a 30km/h limit near all urban schools.
The changes will be part of a wider programme to tackle unsafe speeds including new signs and more cameras on high-risk roads.
The focus on unsafe speeds was a “priority action” in the “Road to Zero” Road Safety Strategy.
Legislation and rule changes to support the changes should be in place by mid-2020 after a select committee process.