The NZ Transport Agency will lower the speed limit on a residential section of State Highway 14 in Whangarei from 70km/h to 60km/h to help improve safety in the area.
The speed limit will be changed next Wednesday (22 January), and it will apply to a 2.7 kilometre-long section of SH14 between Silverstream and Austin Roads (Maunu).
The Transport Agency's Northland Journey Manager, Jacqui Hori-Hoult, says the lower limit is part of a nationwide strategy to improve road safety.
“We are committed to reducing crashes and improving safety for people using the highway and for those who live beside it. Our initiative is supported by local residents and by the Police and our other road safety partners.
In the past 5 years there have been 23 crashes on this section of SH14. One involved serious injury and five involved minor injuries. Excess speed was the cause of 17% of those crashes
Ms Hori-Hoult appealed for drivers to observe the new speed limit.
“SH 14 is a busy and critical corridor for the city and for Northland – it’s the main road access to the hospital and there are extensive improvements underway to the SH14/1 intersection. It's important that people drive with care for their own safety and for the safety of others, she says.
