Road safety  |  11 May 2022

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New lower speed limits have been recommended for some side roads adjoining State Highway 75 on Banks Peninsula and in some rural townships.

The recommendations are in a Christchurch City Council report which will be considered by the Banks Peninsula Community Board at its meeting on 16 May. If accepted, they will go to the full Council on 9 June.

It follows a joint speed limit review undertaken by Christchurch City Council and Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency.

The review looked at roads adjoining State Highway 75 which would benefit from a review should the speed limits change on SH75 and roads adjoining smaller settlements that would be suited to lower speed limits.

The lowered speeds will mainly affect low volume rural roads and those in small townships including Takamatua, Motukarara, Robinsons Bay, Kaituna, Little River, Cooptown, and Barrys Bay.

Council Transport Operations Manager Stephen Wright says lowering the speed limits on local roads and townships could mean the difference between someone dying in a collision or walking away unharmed.

“Implementing safer speeds recognises these roads are becoming busier with people walking, riding, driving and cycling. This includes many vulnerable road users such as school children and the elderly,” says Mr Wright.

“It also aligns these roads and townships with other speed reductions introduced across Banks Peninsula in 2021, which have been positively received by communities.”

Safer speeds for state highways on Banks Peninsula

New safer speed limits will also be implemented on State Highways 73 and 75 between Christchurch and Akaroa, and State Highway 74 in Lyttelton, Waka Kotahi announced today.

The speed limit changes will take place in late July/early August.

They will include more consistent speeds through Halswell, 60km/h over the Hilltop and 50km/h through Little River to just past Wairewa Marae.

High-risk 100km/h sections of SH75 will reduce to 80km/h.

Waka Kotahi Director of Regional Relationships James Caygill says speed limits need to reflect the type of road and their environment, and in this instance 100km/h is not safe or appropriate.

“We need these changes on Banks Peninsula. Between 2011 and 2020 there were 747 crashes between Christchurch and Akaroa. Nine people were killed and 74 others were seriously injured.”

Mr Caygill says this is unacceptable. “It’s time to stop paying the road toll. We know that safer speeds will make a difference.”

More information on the speed limit changes to SH73, SH74 and SH75 can be found here.