Rejection by Transport and Industrial Relations Committee
By Lucinda Rees

During the Rugby World Cup, authorities are reducing the speed limit on roads outside some stadiums to 30km/h, yet outside rural schools here in New Zealand the legal speed limit is often up to 100km/h. It seems to be fine to look after adults outside a rugby stadium, whilst children, who often learn by making mistakes, get the raw deal of a possible death sentence.

If a car hits a pedestrian at 30km/h, the pedestrian is likely to survive, however if hit at a mere 50km/h the pedestrian is likely to be killed!

A few weeks ago I and 2,564 others made a submission to the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee asking that the House of Representatives pass a law that reduces speeds outside schools and preschools to 40km/h. In short we were asking for a National School Speed Limit of 40km/h and I have just received notice that this has been rejected. The report states that “The New Zealand Labour members believe the committee has missed an opportunity to examine this issue in more detail. The majority of us have not matters to bring to the attention of the House.” Signed David Bennett, National MP. “The majority of us” obviously haven’t thought this through. So despite protecting those who make the journey to attend our National Game (and I have no qualms with that), attempting a journey to school is still risky business for our children. The submission was merely asking for children to be given the right to get to and from school safely. Currently they don’t have this right, especially in rural areas. This is disappointing, not just for all those who made the effort to sign the petition, but most importantly for our school children, whom we are representing.

Any speed limit outside a school over 40km/h is just plain dangerous and the NZTA themselves state: “Research has shown reducing vehicle speeds to 40km/h or less significantly reduces the level of injury if a child is struck by a vehicle.” NZTA, Traffic Note 37, Revision 2. So why not introduce a National School Speed Limit of 40km/h or less? The World Health Organisation suggests that 30km/h is the maximum speed limit outside schools and children’s play areas. Hamilton, where David Bennett presides, is soon to introduce 40km/h speed limits outside most of its schools, although they had to jump through plenty of hoops to get this. If there was a National School Speed Limit, then there would be no more hoops for councils to jump through to get a safe speed outside their schools. In New South Wales a 40km/h speed zone has been introduced outside every school in the state regardless of the underlying speed limit of the surrounding area. The AA recommends the same here in New Zealand. The Police, who are of course employed by the Government, seem unable to comment on this, but are keen to implement any speed limit outside schools. But what is the point of them spending precious time outside one of our rural schools, where the speed limit is not protecting our children? A National School Speed Limit is a necessity. So if the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee is unable to make the effort to deal with the ridiculous speeds outside many schools, I shall have to put my energy back into keeping a running commentary to our Transport Minister Steven Joyce.

We need a National School Speed Limit of 40km/h or less now!

ENDS

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