Selwyn_Times: October 11, 2023

Selwyn Times Wednesday October 11 2023
6
NEWS
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Speed ‘a significant factor’ in fatalities
• From page 1
The report said over the past
five years, 100 per cent of fatal
road crashes and 68 per cent of
serious injury crashes in Selwyn
occurred on open roads (not
including state highways). Of
those, inappropriate speed was a
contributing factor in 17 per cent
of all fatal and serious crashes on
the Selwyn roading network.
“This indicates that speed
(not necessarily exceeding the
speed limit) continues to play a
significant part in the severity
of crashes within our district,
and the outcomes of these
crashes.
“A small change in speed
makes a big difference to the
survivability or avoidance of a
crash, especially when cyclists
or pedestrians are involved,” the
report said.
Reduced speeds may have a
minor impact on journey times.
For every 10km travelled on an
open road, an 80km/h speed
limit would increase the sixminute
trip at 100km/h by 30-48
seconds.
As well as safety improvements,
the report also points to
emission reduction and more
people cycling or walking.
“Driving slower, especially
on rural roads, saves fuel by
reducing engine effort needed to
overcome wind resistance, which
SLOWING DOWN: Gerald St in Lincoln will be reduced to 30 km/h from 50 km/h if a council
plan goes ahead. Below – your chances of survival in a crash. PHOTO: BARRY CLARKE
increases exponentially with
speed. Safe speeds, which make
it safer to walk and cycle, will
therefore be a critical part of the
emission reduction pathway for
New Zealand,” the report said.
The speed limits have been
guided by new Waka Kotahi
NZTA rules, which direct all
councils to prepare a long-term
speed management plan.
Both Christchurch City
Council and Waimakiriri
District Council have released
draft speed management plans.
As part of its election policies,
National has promised to repeal
the changes if elected and
will look to raise some speed
limits.
“National will repeal and
replace the rules that set speed
limits so that economic impacts
– including travel times – and
the views of road users and
local communities count,
alongside safety,” its transport
spokesperson Simeon Brown
said.
Despite the pushback from
National, the council will push
on with the process.
“The council is following the
legal requirements laid out by
the Ministry of Transport for
consultation and completion of
new speed management plans,”
council transport manager Geoff
Rhodes said.
“We have received strong
encouragement already from the
community to move ahead with
safer speeds around schools.”
• To see the list of speed
changes for Selwyn streets
and roads go to https://
shorturl.at/oDSX5
HAVE YOUR SAY: Share
your views on the new
speed limit plan. Email
daniel.alvey@starmedia.
kiwi Keep replies to 200
words or less
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