Auckland, 30 June – New speed limits on more than 600 roads across Auckland came into force this morning.
As part of Auckland Transport’s (AT’s) Safe Speeds programme, there are now lower speed limits for Auckland’s city center, and on some roads in the Rodney Local Board and the Franklin Local Board areas.
Speed limits on approximately 100 other roads across the region also changed.
New data shows that in 2019, 40 people died on our roads and an additional 567 were seriously injured.
Franklin Local Board had the highest level of death and serious injury (DSi) among all rural local boards in 2019; and the highest rate of serious road injuries (123) per capita, out of all rural local boards in 2019.
In the Rodney Local Board area, the level of DSi has gone down by 36 per cent from 2018.
Auckland Transport’s executive general manager of safety, Bryan Sherritt, says while this is good news in the Rodney Local Board area, there is still a long way to go.
“In 2019, 40 people tragically lost their lives and 567 people were seriously injured on Tamaki Makaurau roads. Absolutely no one should lose their life simply getting around our city – so we have to keep working hard.”
“This is why today some roads around Auckland had their speed limit reduced as part of the Speed Limits Bylaw.”
Mr Sherritt says thousands of people call Auckland city center their home. “Streets are shared by children, senior citizens, people driving, walking, cycling, scooting or motorbiking. To keep them safe, and to make speeds survivable in case of a crash, most speed limits went down from 50km/h to 30km/h today in the city center.”
“However, Nelson, Hobson and Fanshawe Streets each have a new speed limit of 40km/h, down from 50km/h. Some shared streets like Federal Street continue to have a 10km/h speed limit.”
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Senior Road Safety Manager Fabian Marsh says speed is a factor in every crash.
“Even when it isn’t the cause, the speed a vehicle is travelling at can be the difference between someone walking away unharmed or being seriously injured or even killed, particularly when pedestrians or cyclists are involved. These changes will make Auckland’s streets safer for everyone who uses them.”
To see an interactive map showing the changes: at.gov.nz/speed or at.govt.nz/safespeeds
