Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is seeking formal submissions from the public on proposed speed limit changes to State Highway 6 (SH6), between Hope and Wakefield in Tasman District.
Making sure speed limits are safe and appropriate for this road will help make SH6 safer for everyone who uses it and will help prevent people being killed or seriously injured in crashes, says Waka Kotahi Director Regional Relationships Jim Harland.
“We know many local people are concerned about traffic volumes and the speeds at which people are travelling in their communities. Safer speed limits will save lives and reduce serious injuries on this section of SH6.”
In the ten years from 2009 to 2018 there were a total of 98 crashes on SH6 between Hope and Wakefield. Three people were killed and 18 people were seriously injured by those crashes.
“The speed of a crash is what determines whether someone walks away or is carried away. Regardless of why a crash occurs, if that crash happens at a lower speed, it is less likely to be deadly for the driver, their passengers, and anyone else who happens to be on the road at the same time,” says Mr Harland.
“When we spoke to the community, we heard from some people that they would like to see safer speed limits introduced, and from others who wanted to see more consistent speed limits. We also heard that the current speeds of vehicles can make it difficult to access SH6 from side roads and driveways. Introducing new speed limits will make it easier for people to join the state highway and safer for everyone using it.
“Based on the feedback we received, we are also investigating what changes or improvements could be made to improve access and safety at key intersections.”
Formal consultation on the proposed speed limit change starts on Monday, 16 November and closes at 5pm on Friday, 18 December.
Mr Harland says those formal submissions will be considered by Waka Kotahi before it makes any final decisions on proposed speed limit changes.
What we’re proposing between Hope and Wakefield:
|
Location |
Current speed limit |
Proposed speed limit |
Current average speed |
|
Approx. 320m south west of Norman Andrews Place to approx. 800m south west of Ranzau Road East |
70km/h |
60km/h |
60-64km/h |
|
Approx. 800m south west of Ranzau Road East to 300m south west of Clover Road |
100km/h |
80km/h |
80-84km/h |
|
Approx. 300 south west of Clover Road to approx. 380m south west of River Terrace Road |
80km/h |
No change |
75-79km/h |
|
Approx. 380m south west of River Terrace Road to approx. 440m north east of Bird Road |
100km/h |
80km/h |
85-89km/h |
|
Approx. 440m north east of Bird Road to approx. 310m north east of Franklyn Close |
70km/h |
60km/h |
60-64km/h |
How can I have my say?
From Monday 16 November, you can make a submission on the proposed changes by:
Feedback will close 5pm on Friday 18 December, 2020.
Road to Zero
This speed review is aligned to New Zealand’s Road Safety Strategy, Road to Zero 2020–2030 and a programme of work delivering safety improvements on our highest risk intersections and roads across New Zealand. Through these safety improvements, Waka Kotahi aims to prevent the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads.
More information about speed management and Road to Zero:
