People from Tikitere to Whakatane are being asked to share their local insights, as Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency continues to review speed limits on state highways around the region.
State Highway 30, between Tikitere and Whakatane in Eastern Bay of Plenty, is the latest state highway to come under the spotlight, after being identified as a road where safer speed limits could make a big difference in preventing deaths and serious injuries.
Waka Kotahi director of regional relationships David Speirs says between 2010 and 2019, 10 people died and 73 were seriously injured on this road.
'We're working toward a future where no-one is killed or seriously injured in road crashes in Aotearoa New Zealand,” he says.
'Lots of change is needed to get us there but there is one thing we can do that will make a huge difference immediately – making speeds safer on our roads.
'The speed of a vehicle at impact is the single biggest factor in determining whether you or someone you love walks away from a crash.”
Speirs says Waka Kotahi has heard concerns from people in the community about the speeds people are travelling on SH30 between Tikitere and Whakatane.
'Engaging with the community helps us get feedback and local knowledge on how people feel about current speeds in the area, including on roads around their local school, marae, business or workplace.”
This information helps when deciding if a speed limit change is the best thing to improve road safety, where new speed limits might begin or end, and if any other safety improvements might be needed.
The feedback also helps determine if and what speed limit changes will be formally consulted on.
'We'd like people to tell us about places that are hard to get to or from, how safe they feel crossing the highway or letting their children walk or cycle to school in certain areas, and if there are any other sites or information that we need to be particularly aware of.
'Reviewing speed limits is something we can do now to prevent avoidable deaths and help us achieve our Road to Zero target to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads by 40 percent over the next 10 years.”
Have your say
Feedback is open Wednesday, June 9, to Wednesday, July 7.
Come and see us at a pop-up event
- Rotoiti Sports Club, 1303 State Highway 30, Rotoiti - Saturday, June 12, 10am – 1pm
- The Hub (outside Farmers), 3 Phoenix Drive, Whakatāne - Saturday, June 19, 11am – 2pm
- Awakeri Event Centre, SH30, Awakeri - Thursday, June 24, 3pm – 6pm
If you are unable to attend in person and wish to provide feedback, visit: nzta.govt.nz/bop-speed-reviews or email: bayofplenty.speed.reviews@nzta.govt.nz
Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey this summer. Keep up to date with:
- Traffic updates: journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic
- Facebook: facebook.com/NZTAWaikatoBoP
- Twitter: twitter.com/WakaKotahiWaiBP
- Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz
- Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)
7 comments
When will this all stop!?
Posted on 09-06-2021 12:39 | By The Professor
It'll get to the stage where no one will holiday in NZ because it'll take too long to get to your destination. Ten deaths and 73 serious injuries in a nine year period is not bad. What this story doesn't highlight, is the number of vehicle journeys were made in that same period. Then, if we do the math, we will discover that the deaths and injuries are miniscule (and actually reducing substantially), and whilst not acceptable to the families involved, nevertheless, acceptable in terms of a good road safety record. STOP reducing the speed limits!!! We need them increasing in line with the modern car - ABS, airbags, anti-collision, higher tech tyres.....along with better road surfaces to assist with shorter stopping distances.
Maybe…
Posted on 09-06-2021 14:10 | By namxa
Teach people to DRIVE properly! If there were no idiots on the road, there’d be way less crashes. When driving from Katikati to Tauranga at the ridiculous new speed limit, I constantly have cars overtaking me as I am doing the speed limit. Never see a police car or a radar on that road. Totally over all this speed limit carry on. There are 9 speed limit changes from my place of work at the mount, to Tauriko! Tired of this nanny state.
ridiculous
Posted on 09-06-2021 15:52 | By terry hall
when will these idiots wake up its not the road it is not the speed it is the shocking person driving the vehicle, cars have never been safer ever, there has been deaths on roads that have been reduced but still people kill them selves, we will be going back to walking in front of a vehicle with a red flag,
We are still being ripped off
Posted on 09-06-2021 16:32 | By Johnney
The speed is relative to its conditions. Obviously the speed needs to be reduced in some areas as no upgrades have been done for years. So where did the petrol taxes and road user charges go to??
The professor
Posted on 09-06-2021 16:35 | By Johnney
It’s the government’s way of patting themselves on the back by reducing road tolls by reducing speeds everywhere. All modern countries build motorways and proper roads while we head for the dark ages.
@ The Professor
Posted on 10-06-2021 08:09 | By Yadick
Great comment. If reducing the speed limit works then why are there still accidents on Cameron Road. I hit the 50kmh area outside Baypark the other day and EVERY car behind me overtook me at around the 80kph - 100kph mark and that even included a TCC marked car and other vehicles representing businesses. Yes that 50kph is painful as you near end of the expressway but the posted limit is the max. Cops would have an absolute field day if they could find that road.
Speed Up, Slow Down
Posted on 10-06-2021 08:49 | By beefhooked
Whatever you do please don't have 14 different speed limits like there is between Katikati and Te Puna. Absolutely ridiculous - speed up, slow down, speed up, slow down, speed up, slow down......
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