"A proposal in today's Road Safety Strategy to cut open-road speed limits to 90 km/h is contrary to overseas speed restrictions," said ACT Transport spokesman Penny Webster.

Reducing the speed limit is one of a number of proposals in a road safety plan launched today by the National Road Safety Committee.

"The best information I have seen shows the overwhelming majority of countries have motorway speed limits of 110-130km/h. New Zealand's current open-road speed limit is already one of the lowest.

"Imposing unrealistic speed restrictions may well create further frustration for drivers, and encourage risk-taking behaviour.

"This plan is side-stepping the issue, which is the need to improve the quality of New Zealand roads, and examine driver behaviour. 'Road need, not speed' is the real issue here."

I call on the Minister to rule out this option now, to enable the public to focus on the more sensible proposals in the strategy," said Mrs Webster.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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