Interim Speed Management Plan FAQs

Aren’t you just trying to lower speed limits?
No, we are using local knowledge and data to make sure we have done everything we can to make our roads safer. Our aim is to make sure that our local roads have travel speeds that match the risk.

Speed isn’t the problem, drivers are. Why aren’t you focusing on them?
Even the most skilled drivers make mistakes. Most drivers understand that New Zealand’s roads can be challenging. Good speed management gives drivers the cues they need to judge the safe and appropriate speed for the road they are on. Council is also actively promoting road safety with school children and through public education campaigns.

What is good speed management?
Good speed management is when technology, data, first-hand observation and local knowledge are used to inform interventions to make a road safer for drivers. This is why your feedback will help us understand if we have our proposals right or not.

Will slowing down mean that it will take longer to get anywhere?
Not necessarily. Research shows that going faster doesn’t save as much time as we think. Waiting for lights to change or traffic to move means total travel times don’t vary much, even if you drive 10 km/h faster.

How do you make drivers slow down to the set speeds?
We are only responsible for setting the road speed limits; the policing of vehicle speeds is the responsibility of the NZ Police.

What happens after Council agrees to change the interim speed management plan, is it just a case of changing the speed signs?
Once Council has adopted the speed management plan, the plan will be submitted to the Director for certification. Staff will then be able to start implementing the changes as agreed in the interim plan. New signs will be installed to inform the road users and the changes will be recorded in the National Speed limit register. They will then be enforceable by NZ Police.

The Government is going to lower speed limits around schools anyway, so why not wait until then?
Council believes that our children and young people have the right to travel safely to and from school. As such, we don’t believe we should wait any longer and have budgeted to put this plan into action in the 2022/23 financial year.

Why are the urban fringes based on a 3km radius?
Over the past ten years, Council has received many requests to speed limit changes. The majority were within 3 kilometers of urban centres, therefore we believe this principle will cover most requests over the next two years.