In March, the government announced that it would increase some speed limits on roads around the country, but this has met some opposition. Last week, a group of experts wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Transport, urging them not to do this, for safety reasons.
The previous Labour government reduced speed limits on some state highways, and many local councils cut speed limits in towns and cities. During the election campaign, National promised to reverse these changes. Now that they are in government, they propose to keep this promise: all speed limits on roads and state highways which had been reduced since 1 January 2020 would increase again by 1 July 2025. This means that in some places, 30km/h speed limits would go back to 50km/h, and 80km/h limits would go back to 100km/h. They say that reversing these speed reductions would boost productivity and economic growth.
However, the road safety and health experts who wrote to the government last week argue that these changes are a bad idea. They say there is considerable evidence showing that when vehicles travel faster, they cause more deaths and injuries in accidents. Research shows even a 5km per hour increase in speed can double the risk of a fatal crash in urban areas. There are also increased emissions, which lead to deaths from air pollution. The experts claim that, in contrast, there is almost no evidence to show that higher speeds lead to greater productivity, because trips are sometimes only up to a minute faster. Many councils around the country also oppose the government’s proposals, mainly for two reasons. Firstly, they are concerned about road safety. Secondly, it would cost councils a lot of money to implement the new speed limits, for example, paying for new signs and road markings.
As part of the government’s plan, speed limits near schools would also increase except for drop-off and pick-up times. Drop-off times in New Zealand are usually 8-9am, and pick-up times 2.30-3.30pm. This means that streets outside a school in urban areas would have a limit of 30km/h when parents are dropping children off and picking them up, but outside these times, the limit would be 50km/h.
There is also a lot of opposition to this plan. 78% of school leaders want lower speeds around schools all the time, because children sometimes leave school at other times. They argue that it is easier for people to remember one speed limit near schools, so it improves safety. According to a survey commissioned by Waka Kotahi/ New Zealand Transport Agency, the majority of respondents want lower speed limits round schools.
We have to wait and see if the government changes its proposal after hearing these views.
Vocabulary
opposition – strong disagreement, because people have an opposite view
campaign – a series of activities that are intended to achieve a particular aim. In politics, a campaign promise is something a political party promises that they will do if they are elected.
km/h – kilometres per hour
boost – to increase or improve something
vehicles – cars or trucks
a fatal crash – a crash which results in someone’s death
urban – relating to towns and cities
emissions – gases that are sent into the air
road markings – signs painted on the road
commissioned by – requested by. To commission means to formally ask someone to write an official report (or in other contexts, to produce a painting or a piece of music)
majority – most of the people