Why did you have to set new speed limits?
We talked to the community and others about making this stretch of road safer. People told us that speeds felt too high to be safe.
Between 2010 and 2019, 10 people were killed and 47 seriously injured in crashes on this stretch of road.
Reducing speeds is one change that we can make quickly which will make a difference straight away.
No matter what causes a crash, speed is always a factor in the severity. Put simply, the speed of impact can be the difference between walking away or being carried away from a crash. This is especially true when pedestrians or cyclists are involved.
Speed also reduces the available time to react to a mistake of yours or someone else’s making. The faster you are travelling, the less time you have.
What are the new speed limits?
We will implement the speed limit changes in a two-phase approach to align with the expected completion of the roundabout and link road to the new Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway.
- Phase One – new speed limits came into force on 14 June 2021, as set out in the table below. Please note that temporary speed limits in place on sections of this route will still apply.
- Phase Two – (when the new Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway opens) the speed limit will be further reduced to 60km/h from 200m north of Kaipara Flats Road to 365m north of Hudson Rd. We will notify people of this phase two speed limit change at that time.
New speed limits for SH1 L Phillips Rd to Pūhoi from 14 June 2021 (Phase One)
| Location | Existing speed limit | New speed limit from 14 June 2021 |
| SH1 North of Warkworth An extension of the 80km/h speed zone (that begins at Wayby Valley Rd) from 180m south of L Phillips Road to 365m north of Hudson Rd, the start of the current 60km/h at the north end of Warkworth. |
100km/h | 80km/h |
| SH1 South of Warkworth From 60m south of McKinney Road, the end of the 60km/h at the south end of Warkworth, to 350m north of Pūhoi Road, the current 80km/h change point for the start of Johnstone’s Hill Tunnel. |
100km/h | 80km/h |
| SH1 South of Warkworth From 285m south of Perry Road to 715m south of Perry Road, locations are the same as currently installed. |
Variable 70km/h when a vehicle is turning at the construction site. 100km/h at all other times. | Variable 60km/h when a vehicle is turning at the construction site. 80km/h at all other times. |
View the new permanent speed limits map [PDF, 705 KB]
How were those limits decided?
The speed review process involves numerous steps that help determine the speed limits we propose at consultation.
The first step is completing a technical assessment which considers the road itself, the traffic volumes, the crash history, and the way people are currently travelling on the roads.
Following the technical assessment, we undertook informal engagement with road user groups, members of the public, councils, AA, road transport associations, and the Police. The feedback we received from engagement helped to determine if and what we will formally consult on for proposed speed limit changes.
During consultation, we ask the community and road users for submissions on any external factors we may need to be aware of. The consultation period runs for a minimum of 4 weeks. Once consultation closes, we analyse the submissions and also review our technical assessment.
The consultation for the proposed speed limit changes is not a vote, it is about seeking valuable local and community input so that we can consider wider factors and context into our decisions.
For more information about how we reached these decisions, please read our consultation summary report .
Consultation summary report [PDF, 936 KB]
When did the speed limit changes take effect and how were the public being notified?
The new speed limits took effect on 14 June 2021.
The public were notified of the new speed limits on the SH1 L Phillips Rd to Pūhoi project page, through local advertising, and on social media. The public will see the new speed limit signs from 14 June 2021.
SH1 L Phillips Rd to Pūhoi project page
How many crashes have happened on the route?
There have been more than 200 crashes on this stretch of road in the last 10 years with 10 people killed and 47 seriously injured in these crashes (2010 and 2019).
A small change in speed makes a big difference, especially when cyclists or pedestrians are involved. Most crashes are caused by a number of contributing factors, but even when speed doesn’t cause the crash, it is most likely to determine whether anyone is killed, injured, or walks away unharmed.
What will lowering the speed limit really do?
Speed affects both the likelihood of a crash, and the severity of it. Less speed means less harm, and a small change in speed can make a big difference.
Even when speed doesn’t cause the crash, it is most likely to determine whether anyone is killed or injured or walks away unharmed. Fewer crashes will also reduce the amount of time the road is closed due to crashes and reduce inconvenience to drivers.
Won’t the new lower speed limits mean the trip will take a lot longer?
The new speed limits will have minimal impact on your travel time. A slight increase in journey time is a small sacrifice for saving lives and keeping people out of wheelchairs.
Did you consult with the public on these changes?
Yes. In May and June 2020, we formally consulted with the public on proposed new speed limits and received 260 submissions.
What impact will the new Matakana Link Rd and the new motorway roundabout have on speed limits?
This is covered in Phase Two (when the new Ara Tūhono – Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway opens) where we are proposing to further reduce the speed limit to 60km/h. This reduction to 60km/h would be for the section from 200m north of Kaipara Flats Road to 365m north of Hudson Rd. We are proposing this further reduction so that the speed limit into and out of the roundabout is safer for people driving in this new urban environment where decisions and lane changes will need to be made to enter the new motorway, Warkworth or Matakana Link Road.
Reducing to 60km/h at new roundabout won’t save any lives but will increase driver frustration.
Research suggests for every 1% change in mean speed there is a corresponding change in deaths (4%) and serious injuries (2-3%). However, that is not the main driver for extending the 60km/h speed limit out past the roundabout. With the construction of the roundabout the environment will change substantially from what it is like now. There will be multiple lanes on each approach, lanes that bypass the roundabout in all directions and road users will need to make decisions about which lane to be in to get where they are going. There will also be significant numbers of movements turning right off the motorway and left into Matakana Link (and vice versa) which will require multiple lane changes over this length. The implementation of a 60km/h speed limit will allow more time for people to interpret the signage and make the necessary lane changes for their desired destination.
Isn’t it just bad drivers that are the problem?
Everyone makes mistakes, but simple mistakes should not cost lives. To make New Zealand’s roads safer, we are working to improve every part of the transport system. This means safe drivers, safe roads, safe vehicles, and safe and appropriate speeds.
Won’t the new Puhoi to Warkworth motorway reduce traffic on the old road, therefore making it safer?
Traffic volumes on this corridor are currently around 20,000 vehicles per day. While this volume will reduce once the new motorway is open, we expect traffic volumes to still be high (well in excess of 6,000 vehicles per day).
Research suggests that above 6,000 vehicles per day, a crash involving a vehicle crossing the centreline is more likely to be a head-on crash (involving multiple occupants) than a run-off-road crash (to the right). Research also suggests that forces from a head-on crash are generally survivable at impact speeds of 70km/h – this supports a speed limit of 80km/h with some braking. This also supports why we are not considering a variable speed limit for this corridor.
