Streets in east Auckland are being eyed for speed limit reductions as part of a campaign to reduce injuries and deaths stemming from traffic crashes across the city.
As part of this work, the Howick Local Board received a report during its most recent business meeting asking its members to formalise their feedback on the new tranche of Auckland Transport’s (AT) proposed speed limit changes.
The report states AT has adopted the goal of eliminating road transport-related deaths and serious injuries on the city’s roads by 2050.
The first tranche of changes included as part of AT’s Safe Speeds Programme safe speed limits initiative were set on many high risk urban and rural roads and within town centres across Auckland between June 2020 and June 2021.
“Roads where safe speed limits were set on June 30, 2020, have experienced a 67 per cent reduction in fatalities, 19 per cent reduction in all injury crashes, and a minor reduction in serious injuries,” according to the report.
“Total deaths and serious injuries reduced on these roads by seven per cent, compared to an upward trend in road trauma seen on the rest of the road network.”
At its meeting the board passed a resolution stating it supports the reduction of the speed limit on Aviemore Drive in Highland Park from 60km/h to 50km/h.
The board did not support a reduction of the speed limit on Dillimore Avenue and Latham Avenue, both in Pakuranga, from 50km/h to 30km/h.
It also did not support the reduction of the speed limit on Millen Avenue in Pakuranga from 50km/h to 30km/h, but recommended an investigation be carried out into whether there’s a need for a 40km/h school speed zone in the vicinity of Riverina School, which is located in Millen Avenue.
The board noted that unsafe driving, poor enforcement, road quality and road maintenance were important issues identified in the public feedback on the proposed speed limit changes.
During discussion on the resolution, board member Mike Turinsky said he supports a speed limit reduction to 30km/h around school zones but noted that was possibly not supported by the rest of the board.
Board chairperson Adele White said 30km/h speed limits are “not really common”.
“I fear that once we give 30km/h speed limits to three streets in Pakuranga, everyone throughout the ward will want one.
“We do have a 40km/h speed limit within that school zone which I think works really well.
“Hence the recommendation … to ask they [AT] carry out some investigation to ascertain whether a 40km/h school speed zone within the vicinity of the school will suffice.”
AT will finalise an analysis and feedback report including feedback from the public and Auckland’s local boards early this year.
The report and recommendations will go to AT’s board on March 31.
New speed limits will come into force on May 31 for the majority of the roads, and on June 13 for roads associated with schools.
More speed limit changes are planned to be publicly consulted on later this year.
