Selwyn Times: June 19, 2019

SELWYN TIMES Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Wednesday June 19 2019 11
Your Local Views
More road project funding cuts
Amy Adams
Selwyn MP
IN MY role as the MP for
Selwyn, I often correspond with
the NZTA making inquiries on
behalf of local residents about
planned safety improvements
and raising concerns about parts
of the roading network that are
not working well.
I was shocked to learn recently
that the NZTA has pulled funding
from a further three roading
projects in Selwyn, including
safety improvements at the
Shands/Blakes Rds and Springs/
Marshs Rds intersections.
This is the second wave of cuts
to roading projects in Selwyn after
the NZTA denied funding for
a dozen other badly needed road
safety improvements that had
been recommended for funding
in the 2018-2021 National Land
Transport Plan, including the intersection
of SH73 and Weedons
Ross Rd in West Melton.
It is unacceptable that the
NZTA is now saying it can’t even
fund projects that it had previously
agreed to fund.
I am deeply concerned that
this decision not to fund these
important safety improvements
will result in more serious accidents
and potentially even
fatalities on our region’s roads.
Given the impact of the Southern
Motorway extension on the
surrounding roading network I
believe it is more important than
ever that the identified improvements
to the wider roading
system proceed.
It appears this outrageous
decision is a consequence of the
failure of the current Government
to adequately prioritise
road safety improvements.
While the Government has
claimed that road safety is one of
its highest priorities, it has actually
cut funding to the sector.
We are all paying more in fuel
taxes – even those who cycle, use
public transport or have electric
vehicles pay more for goods and
services whenever suppliers raise
their prices to cover increasing
fuel costs.
FUNDING CUT: The Weedons Ross Rd and State Highway 73
intersection at West Melton.
Unfortunately we have not
seen these tax dollars allocated
to new, high quality roads that
are safe to drive on at 100km/h.
Instead the Government has
cancelled or delayed major
transport projects that were
in the pipeline, including the
proposed upgrade of State Highway
1 between Rolleston and
Ashburton.
The money that should be
being spent on improving our
roads is going into trains, trams
and everything else and the Associate
Transport Minister Julie-
Anne Genter seems to think the
answer to improving road safety
lies in making everyone drive
more slowly.
While I have previously
advocated for reduced speed
limits where appropriate, such
as around schools, drastically
cutting speed limits across the
whole roading network is not
a sensible approach to road
safety. This approach would
further isolate people outside of
our major cities and impact on
our economy by hindering the
movement of freight.
A reader shares an opinion on
open road speed limits
N G Smith – I have been reading
reports that open road speed
limits may be reduced and it has
me wondering what the promoters
base this on?
Over the last month I have
driven about 1000km around the
narrow lanes, and single carriage
way roads in Southern England,
all with a 60mph (100km/h) limit,
in comparison NZ roads are far
superior in both visibility and surfaces
and with very light traffic.
To date I have yet to see an
accident, or any car with dents,
perhaps people concentrate more
as they are aware of other road
users and the need to be alert at all
times?
Dropping limits will cause boredom,
sleepiness and frustration
and the perennial slow drivers will
continue to tailgate both trucks
and cars and then speed up to
close gaps should faster traffic try
to pass and pull in safely, failing in
this basic requirement is probably
the major cause of head on collisions
and fatalities.
Perhaps we should keep the traffic
and economy going forward by
reviewing the limits upwards and
educate the slower drivers to stay
left and allow plenty of space for
following cars to pass safely.
Failing to do this should attract
similar penalties to those charged
with exceeding the limit.
Keep the traffic and economy
moving by opposing this nonsense.
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