Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency / Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits Submission - 2021

Executive Summary

Auckland Transport (AT), a member of the Safety Collective, has made a submission on the proposed Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2021 and we strongly support their submission.

We support AT’s request for enabling legislation and supporting guidance, that speeds the delivery of safer speed limits on our roads.  We share AT’s desire for a consultation process that facilitates robust and representative feedback from a wide range of individuals and groups.

We believe there is scope to expand the definition of vulnerable road users to include an equity lens including Māori communities, as well as Pasifika and other ethnic communities and lower socio-economic populations.

We support AT’s stance on the proposed requirements to implement safer speed limits and recognise that the implementation timeline is dependent on adequate levels of resourcing and prompt provision of speed management guidelines from Waka Kotahi. However, we feel the proposed timeline is extremely lengthy (the requirement for the final safer speed limits for 60% of schools to be instigated by the end of 2029). It is imperative this timeline is shortened

We strongly support AT’s desire to apply a time limit to schools that continue to have a 40km/hr speed to support the transition for RCAs, with the intention of a 30km/hr speed limit being the ultimate aim for all schools.

We strongly support AT’s recommendation to reduce speed limits at rural schools to 30 km/hr. We also acknowledge their recommendation that a 60 km/hr speed limit should only be implemented in exceptional circumstances as described.

The Safety Collective endorses the requirement for inclusion of a broader area around schools to capture children’s commuting routes in their local communities, in setting speed limits.

We strongly suggest a focus on equity in the progressive allocation of schools to reduce speed limits and instigation of enhanced speed management plans, to ensure resources are prioritised to schools where they will have the greatest effect.

We strongly support the requirement for additional consultation with Māori (clause 3.8-7) and active contribution by Māori into the creation of speed management plans, including capacity building to foster such contributions (clause 3.9-1).

We strongly support similar action with others also disproportionally affected by DSI, such as those living in low income neighbourhoods, Pacific Peoples and others.