The trusted voice of the industry
for more than 30 years

AA supports 110km/h decision

Posted on 23 November, 2017

The New Zealand Transport Agency has welcomed a 110km/h speed limit from the Cambridge Section of the Waikato Expressway and Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Roads. Mike Noon, AA Motoring Affaird General Manager, says the AA supports the higher speed limit for both new roads because they have been designed to a much higher safety standard compared to other New Zealand roads. “From a survey undertaken in August 2017, raising the limit to 110km/h on our safest roads was supported by 79% of AA Members,” says Mike. “New Zealanders expect speed limits that sensibly reflect a road’s risk and these are two of the safest roads in the country so it makes sense to raise the speed limit on these roads.” However this is not the case for all of our roads, and some of our older roads currently have limits that are too high and over time speed limits on these roads are likely to reduce.  The two new roads that will have 110km/h limits are multi-lane highways, with a number of safety features including wide shoulders and median barriers to separate oncoming traffic as well as barriers on the left to prevent vehicles running off the road. The new limits are consistent with speed limits on roads of the same quality in other countries around the world including Australia. “The AA would also like to remind drivers that speed limits are not a target. The speed limit is the maximum speed you can travel in ideal conditions and in some situations you will find that you need to drive significantly slower than the posted speed limit,” says Mike.