30206 (2023). Hon Julie Anne Genter to the Minister of Transport

30206 (2023). Hon Julie Anne Genter to the Minister of Transport: Has there been an evaluation on the speed limit changes to SH1 – Waikato Expressway to Tamahere, and if so, what safety benefits did this evaluation find, including the number of crashes and DSIs avoided or saved, as a result of the speed limit changes?

Hon Simeon Brown: I am advised by NZTA that it has undertaken evaluations of deaths and serious injuries on sections of state highways using the Crash Analysis System (CAS). While there may be a change in the number of DSIs on state highways following changes to speed limits, there are a range of contributing factors in vehicle crashes, which cannot be attributed to speed alone. While I have instructed officials to commence work on changes to the Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits to stop blanket speed limit reductions, I have asked them to ensure changes to limits are measured, reasonable, evidence-informed, and developed in genuine consultation with communities. It is important that economic factors, including travel times, and community views are taken into account by road controlling authorities in setting speed limits.