The AA is urging Auckland Transport (AT) to rethink a proposal that would create a blanket 30km/h speed limit in the central city.
A recent survey of 14,000 Auckland AA Members shows 62% of respondents either oppose or strongly oppose the idea of a 30km/h speed limit for the whole CBD, while only 16% support or strongly support (the rest are in two minds).
AA spokesman Barney Irvine says AA Members are open to safer speeds in the central city, but what AT is proposing is a step too far.
“People see 30km/h as too slow to be credible on all but a very small number of CBD roads, and they’re not at all comfortable with that becoming the default limit for the whole area.”
Mr Irvine says the AA will be pushing for reductions to 40km/h, not 30km/h.
“The Transport Agency’s tool for setting speed limits, the Speed Management Guide, recommends 40km/h as the safe and appropriate speed for the bulk of roads in the CBD, but AT is choosing to ignore it. We think an approach based on 40km/h would be a win for road safety and a win for public support.”
“Sydney and Melbourne have both moved to 40km/h CBDs to good effect and we’ve seen it work well on Ponsonby Road here as well.”
On busy, multi-lane arterials like Hobson St, Nelson St and Fanshawe St, however, the AA will be questioning whether any speed limit reductions make sense.
AA members also have reservations about far-reaching changes proposed for a number of town centres and rural roads, with 57% opposing or strongly opposing a 30km/h limit in town centres, while 24% support or strongly support it.
“Changes need to make sense to people, and be backed up by evidence. If people don’t see the speed limits as credible, they won’t comply with them, and they’ll wind up rejecting the whole programme – and that’s not a good outcome for road safety.”
However, AT chief executive Shane Ellison says if adopted, lower speed limits on high-risk roads will be a significant step in Auckland’s journey to improve road safety.
“Setting safe speeds is one of the quickest and most effective tools we have in reducing road trauma,” he says.
“The public will now have their say on our safe speed proposals early next year, and for Auckland Transport to continue its work to make our streets safer for everyone.”
