Summarised by Centrist
Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced the reversal of speed limit reductions on numerous Auckland roads. This decision impacts over 3100 roads that have had speed reductions implemented since 2020, by the previous Labour Government.
Auckland Transport’s Safe Speed Programme, initiated in 2020, had previously led to speed limit drops from 100 km/h to 80 km/h on state highways and from 50km/h to 30km/h on urban roads, a move perceived by many voters as a “nanny state” regulation.
The move aimed to enhance road safety and align with the Vision Zero initiative to minimise road-related fatalities and injuries. However, the Herald reports:
“Since [Vision Zero] was adopted, the death and serious injury targets set by AT have been a mixed bag, according to figures provided to the Herald under the Local Government Official Information Meetings Act.
The figures show the targets were met in the first two years, but not the next two years, and it is touch and go in the current 2023-2024 year that ends on June 30.”
Read more over at the NZ Herald
Image: John Ward