The NZ Transport Agency is encouraging people to have their say on proposed speed limit changes for sections of State Highway 5 and State Highway 30 in Rotorua.
The review of speed limits on SH5 starts from just south of the Hemo Road roundabout and continues along SH30 to south of the Rotorua airport and is part of NZTA’s Safe Network Programme.
The programme is aligned to the Road Safety Strategy, Road to Zero 2020 – 2030 and aims to tackle the highest risk intersections and corridors throughout New Zealand.
Between 2009 and 2018, there were 629 crashes, six people were killed and 26 were seriously injured on these roads.
Regional relationships director Steve Mutton says engaging with the community on the speed review will help NZTA get feedback and local knowledge on how the locals use the road and their concerns.
“This feedback is then used to decide if a speed limit change is the best thing to do to improve road safety, where new speed limits could begin or end, and if any other safety improvements might be needed,” Mutton says.
“SH5 and SH30 are used for everything from commuting, to freight, to tourism, and with planned developments they are only going to get busier.
“This route also has a number of different speed changes, dangerous intersections, and pedestrians and cyclists negotiating the busy road.
“We know that there are other changes people want to see on these roads and we have other projects in the area addressing some of these concerns. Changing speed limits to ensure they are safe and appropriate is one of the best things we can do to help prevent deaths and serious injuries.
“No matter what causes a crash, speed is always a factor in the severity. The speed of impact can be the difference between walking away or being carried away from a crash,” Mutton says.
Public engagement on current speed limits for SH5 and SH30 Rotorua runs until Monday, August 10.
*Click here or email speed.reviews@nzta.govt.nz to provide feedback.
