Speed limit rules changing

The government has announced it is amending speed limit rules and has issued a directive to the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi and local councils to stop blanket speed limit reductions.

Simeon Brown, Transport Minister, says the coalition has this week removed mandatory requirements for road controlling authorities to implement speed management plans.

The government has also taken away the deadlines for those authorities to submit such plans by March 29. 

“Speed limits have been reduced using a blanket approach across many parts of the country under the previous government’s Land Transport Rule, ignoring economic impacts and the views of road users and local communities,” adds Brown.

“Our coalition government wants to see a transport system that boosts productivity and economic growth and allows New Zealanders to get to where they want to go, faster and safer.” 

He says removing the previous government’s requirements will allow work to begin on a new rule to ensure that when speed limits are set, economic impacts, travel times, public feedback and safety are all taken into account.

“The new rule will also implement variable speed limits on roads approaching schools during pick-up and drop-off times, rather than permanent reductions, to keep young New Zealanders safe when they are arriving at or leaving school,” explains Brown.

“I am writing to road controlling authorities throughout the country to notify them of the changes and to advise them that work has begun on the new rule. This allows them to stop work on current speed management plans until the rule is put in place.”