A new speed limit o 110km/h may be on the cards for the Tauranga Eastern Link.
The $445 million, five-year TEL project is one of New Zealand Transport Agency's candidates for the 10km increase, says Transport Minister Simon Bridges.
While no decision has been made yet, Simon says he is openly discussing the idea with the Transport Agency.
'The question is for a small number of newly designed roads, including the Tauranga Eastern Link, are they designed in a way that they can safely take these speeds?”
The move is part of a National Safer Speeds Programme – being developed in the Government's Safer Journeys 2013-15 Action Plan – aimed at reducing deaths and serious injuries on the road network while maintaining or improving travel times on high-volume routes.
SunLive asked people in the community what their thoughts on the proposal were.
Watch the video above to see what they had to say.
What do you think about the idea? Should the speed limit for the TEL be increased?
10 comments
110 is great
Posted on 29-11-2014 13:32 | By mutley
110 km/h is completely appropriate for the new TEL. All of our motorways should be increased to at least 110km/h in line with every other country in the world. In Germany where some sections of the motorways have unlimited speed the crash rate is 2.2 deaths per billion km travelled whereas the other roads are about 7. Speed is not as important as the road standard, car standard and driver competence. Kiwis need to understand this and see past the point of view that slower is always safer. We are already driving slower but the accidents keep happening.
mutley it's not
Posted on 29-11-2014 14:19 | By s83cruiser
the kiwi drivers that have the point of view slower is safer it's the traffic police!!!. Modern cars are designed to run at higher motorway speeds than the traffic police will allow and now they have cut it again. They are the ones with the slower is better mentality. This latest move of 1km over the limit is plain ridiculous A fine does nothing by way of driver training all it does is lighten the drivers wallet and fatten the coffers. It's not about the revenue they say...but the slower is better tactic doesn't produce results either so what's the answer. Everyone, over this holiday period should drive at 95km/hr and that would put a dampener on the revenue stream because they are hoping to bring in 5-6 million Dollars this holiday season, it's like they have their budget target set already.....But it's not about the revenue.....Yeah Right!!!
hmmm
Posted on 29-11-2014 15:00 | By rotovend
as usual it will be all the merging points that are the actual problem Im not sure if it is really long enough and straight enough to make much difference if the speed does increase
Wisechief
Posted on 29-11-2014 15:38 | By Wise Chief
Cowardly Kiwis who sat idle while Police State was being erected under their racially biased noses to take control not only over everything Maori but also over near every aspect of NZders daily lives in this Fake Neo Colonial Democracy Island Prison State should shut their mouths and just let them fleece every Man his Wife & children the dogs and soon cats.We should leave these traffic fine gathering taxpayer funded police state traffic personnel alone. I mean few protested when they rushed through all these new laws which they are now using for the purpose they were passed into law for, that of fleecing money from the public at every opportunity the PS are able to create. To heck with the BS law and order stuff as this is about enrichment of the few who are our now hidden dictators. Totally deserved outcome for wilful mass APATHY.
What is the point?
Posted on 29-11-2014 20:31 | By SonnyJim
Get real! 10km/hr extra saves a minute and a smidgen and you burn more petrol to do it, so why bother! The TEL is a tiny bit of motorway with twisty bumpy roading at each end, so just enjoy 100km/hr on a flat bit of road for a change - there is no need to hurry on such a short road.
Flippa
Posted on 30-11-2014 09:46 | By Flippa
Not so sure an increase in speed, over this distance is going to be an advantage. As a professional Driver, I can tell you that maintaining a reasonable average speed over a long distance, gets you there faster, without risking death. However our roads don't allow this so we may as well stick with what we've got. "Ratepayer", I can't agree that lifting to 110kmh will use more fuel. Due to modern electronics and tuning of engines and gearing, higher speeds can actually decrease fuel consumption! I have two modern vehicles where the consumption at 110 is less than at 100kmh. In fact, my motorcycle at 160kmh is more economical than at 100kmh! 4.1ltrs/100kms at 160 and 5.6ltrs/100kms at 100kmh. Never mind how I know this, but the point is slower does not always mean more economical.
@Wise Chief
Posted on 30-11-2014 11:30 | By Jimmy Ehu
there are some wonderful drugs out there to treat all sorts of issues, just saying!!!!
Doesn't matter
Posted on 30-11-2014 16:26 | By Bop man
It will cost to use this road as it will be a toll road so won't be using it will still go through Te Puke if I need to go that way just like everyone else, just look at the one and only other toll road in the bay never any cars on it.
Remove the safety net first!
Posted on 30-11-2014 17:05 | By How about this view!
Get rid of the ACC safety net, which seems to encourage mindless activity. With a no-fault system there is no consideration to consequences and therefore I believe that MORE risk-taking eventuates, particularly with our youth. Then de-restrict all of our state highways and major roads, remove all speed cameras and let the police concentrate on crime.
Speed
Posted on 02-12-2014 16:11 | By NZgirl
110 km/h in most european countries is slow and you be flashed out the way.Get with the times NZ
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