What’s this about?
We are required to review all speed limits in the District under the Government’s Road to Zero National Road Safety Strategy. To do this, we are undertaking a road catchment-based rolling review of speed limits. Our initial focus is on high-benefit roads where better speed management will reduce serious injury and fatal crashes.
This time round we are reviewing the Kaitāia-Awaroa and Broadwood-Kohukohu catchments, Moerewa urban area, and Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe (Ninety Mile Beach). You can read about all the proposed changes in the Statement of Proposal(PDF, 4MB).
Why are we doing this?
We need to ensure we all get to our destination safely. Better speed management is one way of making our roads safer. Other ways of improving safety include better engineering, safer cars and improving driver education. Government and Council are working on these other options as well, but they take time (and are costly), and we need to reduce serious injuries and fatalities on our roads now.
Speed is a factor in 30% of all fatal and serious injury crashes in Far North. Speed limits on many of our roads were set when limits were restricted to 50 km/h in urban areas, 100 km/h in most other places and 70 km/h on a few semi-urban roads. As a result, our speed limits do not always match the road environment. In some cases, we have 100 km/h speed limits on narrow, unsealed roads with one-lane bridges and poor visibility on corners. Our district has also grown, and traffic volumes have changed.
The Kaitāia-Awaroa Road is one of the highest risk roads in Northland for serious injury and fatal crashes. By setting the speed limit closer to the average speed driven on this road we will reduce the top-end speed. Research has shown that this approach does not increase travel times for most drivers but reduces serious and fatal injury crashes.
The Moerewa and Taumatamakuku Settlement review is in response to requests from the community; and because there are a high number of serious crashes, particularly on Otiria Road.
We are including Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe (Ninety Mile Beach) to implement the recently released Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe Beach Management Plan. The review proposes a slower speed limit around access points where people spend most of their time.
How can I have a say?
Your views on the proposed new speed limits are important to us, but we need your feedback by 4:30pm on Tuesday 24 August 2021.
We encourage you to share your feedback using the survey below.
Proposed new speed limits feedback survey
We will be hosting drop-in sessions for those who want to discuss the proposed changes, share their feedback, and learn more in person.
If you cannot use the online survey, you can also:
- Email your submission to submissions@fndc.govt.nz
- Drop-off a written submission at any Council service centre or library
- Post your submission to: Far North District Council, Private Bag 752, Kaikohe 0440