Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
License needed for work use Register

Local Govt | National News Video | Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Search

 

Safer speed limit for Waitomo and Hangatiki


28 September 2016 | WAIKATO & BAY OF PLENTY


Safer speed limit for Waitomo and Hangatiki

Recent road and roadside safety improvements on State Highway 37 in the Waitomo district will be enhanced by an 80km/h speed limit.

The new speed limit, which takes effect on Wednesday (28 September), will be introduced on SH37 from the intersection with SH3 to Waitomo Village, and on SH3 at the approaches to and through the roundabout at Hangatiki.

The reduced speed limit complements the $1.5 million of targeted safety improvements which have recently been completed as part of the Government’s Safer Roads and Roadsides Programme.

Waikato Highway Manager Niclas Johansson says a reduction in speed limit is expected to reduce deaths and serious injuries along what is one of the 90 most high risk sections of rural roads in the country.

“Reducing risk on these roads has been a two-pronged approach with both improvements to the roads and roadsides themselves, as well as a lowered speed limit.

“This stretch of highway has challenging topography, including curves, and is busy with both visitor and local traffic. The reduction in speed reduces the likelihood of a crash due to loss of control, as well as reducing the severity of any impact if a crash does happen.

“Our consultation with the community and key organisations showed support for a reduction in speed limit, with 80km/h seen as a good compromise between visiting drivers who may be unfamiliar with the roads and driving more conservatively, and locals driving faster because they are used to the road,” Mr Johansson says.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

The Transport Agency uses a Safe System approach to road safety that maintains while mistakes are inevitable, deaths and serious injuries are not.

Based on the Safe System approach the reduction in speed in this area would significantly help reduce deaths and serious injuries because the likelihood of a loss of control crash is reduced and the severity of impact is lower if a crash does occur.

ends

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines

Gordon Campbell: On How Climate Change Threatens Cricket‘s Future

Well that didn’t last long, did it? Mere days after taking on what he called the “awesome responsibility” of being Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon has started blaming everyone else and complaining that he's inherited “economic vandalism on an unprecedented scale” - which is how most of us would describe his own coalition agreements, 100-Day Plan, and backdated $3 billion handout to landlords... More


 
 
Public Housing Futures: Christmas Comes Early For Landlords

New CTU analysis of the National & ACT coalition agreement has shown the cost of returning interest deductibility to landlords is an extra $900M on top of National’s original proposal. This is because it is going to be implemented earlier and faster, including retrospective rebates from April 2023. More


Green Party: Petition To Save Oil & Gas Ban

“The new Government’s plan to expand oil and gas exploration is as dangerous as it is unscientific. Whatever you think about the new government, there is simply no mandate to trash the climate. We need to come together to stop them,” says James Shaw. More

PSA: MFAT Must Reverse Decision To Remove Te Reo

MFAT's decision to remove te reo from correspondence before new Ministers are sworn in risks undermining the important progress the public sector has made in honouring te Tiriti. "We are very disappointed in what is a backward decision - it simply seems to be a Ministry bowing to the racist rhetoric we heard on the election campaign trail," says Marcia Puru. More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.