Frequently asked questions

Why review speeds?

Most crashes are caused by several factors. However, even when it is not the primary cause of the crash, speed is the factor most likely to determine whether anyone is killed, injured or walks away unharmed. Reviewing the speeds and making sure they are safe for the road is something we can do in the meantime, while physical safety improvements are being investigated.

Are speeds changing?

We are currently at the engagement stage of the speed review process, which helps us better understand how you use the road and any concerns you may have about current speed limits. This feedback helps us determine if and what proposed speed limit changes will be formally consulted on. If we decide to propose speed limit changes, we will consult with you about those proposed changes at that stage.

What happens next in a speed review?

After an initial technical assessment and community input, we use this information to decide whether a speed review is progressed. To progress a speed change further, a formal proposal needs to be put to the community for feedback – this is called consultation. During consultation, specific proposed speeds are shared. Following formal consultation, a final decision is made and published before the new speed limits are implemented.

What is a technical assessment?

A technical assessment is carried out to understand crash history, average vehicle speeds, vehicles volumes and development of surrounding areas. This helps to determine what the safe and appropriate speeds should be.

Why don’t you invest more money in getting roads up to a higher standard?

A major shift is needed on many fronts to reduce deaths and injuries on our roads, from speed to driver education to road maintence and improvements to safer vehicles.

It’s not a matter of choosing one solution over another. We need to take action in all these areas.

We’re also looking at how we can improve road safety by installing median and side barriers, widening shoulders and centre lines and intersection safety improvements.

Find out more about these safety solutions [PDF, 2.8 MB]

Why bother with these changes when it’s bad drivers who are the problem?

Everyone makes mistakes, but simple mistakes shouldn’t cost lives.

Whether we’re late for work or dropping off the kids to school or sports or heading to the marae to see the whānau, everyday pressures can influence how we drive.

To make New Zealand’s roads safer, we’re working to improve every part of the transport system. That means safe drivers, safe roads, safe vehicles, and safe speeds.

Driver education and training:

We also deliver a number of driver training and education programmes such as DRIVE and BikeReady and we work with the likes of Students Against Dangerous Driving (SADD), the Ashburton District Road Safety Co-ordinating Committee and the Selwyn District Road Safety Sub-Committee to support community-based road safety initiatives.

DRIVE(external link)

BikeReady(external link)

Students Against Dangerous Driving (SADD)(external link)

These initiatives aim to influence road user behaviour and encourage the correct behaviours on our roads.

Find out more about our education initiatives and training

Vehicle safety:

Find out more about what we’re doing to improve vehicle safety

Why is this project a priority when there are other projects we would rather see happen?

This is a step towards Vision Zero for New Zealand, an internationally proven vision where no one is killed or seriously injured in road crashes. This means that no death or serious injury while travelling on our roads is acceptable, and that we need to build a road system that protects everyone from road trauma.

Our commitment to Road to Zero addresses the safety of the whole network with a range of strategies using a ‘Safe System’ approach. Where we can and where it is the right solution, we will review speeds, improve physical infrastructure or build new infrastructure and keep the existing network well maintained.

In addition to reviewing speed limits on SH3, we are proposing safety improvements on SH3 between New Plymouth and Egmont Village.

Improvements being proposed include 8.35km of median barrier, roundabouts at Mangorei and Kent Roads, two other safe turning opportunities and removing right turns out of Junction Street.

Any changes to speed limits on this section of SH3 will be appropriate for the road after the infrastructure improvements have been made.

Find out more and have your say on these safety improvements

We’re also undertaking a study to assess the scope, cost, risk and timeframes of physical safety improvements for Mountain Road and SH3 between Egmont Village and Hāwera.

This study will inform the decision of whether to progress the project to the next stages.

As part of this study we’ll consider any potential changes to speed limits as a result of these speed reviews.

Are you still going to change speed limits even if the public don’t agree with it?

We’re working toward a future where no-one is killed or seriously injured in road crashes in Aotearoa New Zealand.

We don’t accept that serious crashes are just another part of road travel, or that the loss of human life on our roads is a ‘toll’ we should pay as the price of being able to get around.

Too many of our whānau, friends and workmates are being killed or seriously injured on our roads and we know that speed is a key factor that determines if you or someone you love, lives or dies in a crash.

Our research shows that the people who respond to consultation only represent about 15% of the public, and that there is a significant silent majority that want us to improve road safety and save lives - they are just not always the ones quoted in the media.

Our consultation on proposed speed limit changes is not a vote. That’s why we focus on the evidence behind the proposed changes and ask if there is any other information that should inform our final decision, instead of asking if people like it or not.

New Zealanders have accepted changes in the past - like wearing seatbelts and not smoking in some places – because we know it will make a difference and we know it is the right thing to do. It’s time to do it again.

How will you make things safer for school children and people who walk and bike?

Safer speeds will make the road safer for everyone.

Implementing more school speed zones will make traffic speeds safer around areas where children are before and after school.

How we’re keeping children safe

We also deliver a number of driver training and education programmes such as BikeReady and we work with the likes of Students Against Dangerous Driving (SADD) and Northland Road Safety to support community-based road safety initiatives.