Lower speed limits to improve road safety

Lower speed limits will be in place on many Hastings rural roads from Monday March 17th.

Hastings District Council has moved to introduce a new Safe Speed Area that covers approximately 58 kilometres of the Hastings roading network in the Heretaunga Plains area. This represents around 3% of the districts total roading network but has contributed 32% of the fatal crashes within the last 5 years.

Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule says “Despite the majority of the roads in the new Safe Speed Area being straight, they are not protecting motorists in the event of a crash. The roads typically have a high number of access ways and intersections, are narrow and have dangerous roadside hazards, including drains and power poles.”

Lawrence Yule says “Council recognises that the lower speed limits will have an effect on the time it takes to complete your journey, if it includes roads in the Safe Speed Area. However, it is estimated that the time increase for your journey will be less than a minute, and in most cases not even that.”

“Many drivers simply don’t or won’t adjust their speed to take into account the quality of the road they are driving on. The number of roadside hazards on many of our rural roads has convinced Council that the creation of a Safe Speed Area is imperative, if we are to help keep drivers safe on the districts roads.”

New Safe Speed Area signage will be placed at the beginning of each zone and then at 2 kilometre intervals.

Lawrence Yule says” The law requires that the new signage is placed no further than 2 kilometres apart, to ensure that all drivers are aware of the lower speed limit.”

The new signage will be installed progressively from Monday 10th March but the speed limit will be covered. The new speed limits will become legally enforceable from Monday 17th March.

A list of the roads which will be included in the Safe Speed Area is available at: www.myvoicemychoice.co.nz/new-lower-speed-limits

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