The speed limit has changed on SH2 north of Te Puna but not everyone is adhering to it. Photo / George Novak
The speed limit has changed on SH2 north of Te Puna but not everyone is adhering to it. Photo / George Novak
The number of crashes on one of the Bay of Plenty's deadliest highways has fallen drastically since slower speed limits were introduced.
But some who use the stretch of State Highway 2 north of Tauranga say they don't feel much safer.
In December last year, Waka Kotahi New Zealand TransportAgency changed the speed limit between Katikati and Tauranga from 100km/h and to 80km/h, and 60km/h in parts, due to a high number of crashes.
Figures obtained by Bay of Plenty Times under the Official Information Act show that in the year leading up to then, there were 24 crashes on those sections of highways. Since the new limit was brought in, to October 12, 2021, there have been at least 19 crashes.
In the year leading up to then, there were 54 crashes on that section of highway. Since the new limit was brought in, to October 12, 2021, there have been just 25.
The crashes during the first year involved a fatal crash at Aongatete, three serious-injury crashes, 19 minor-injury crashes and 31 non-injury crashes. The latest tally consisted of a fatal crash at Te Puna, two serious-injury crashes, 15 minor-injury crashes and seven non-injury crashes.
The transport agency is now also in the midst of a speed review of SH29 through the Kaimai Range and SH29A from Tauriko to Te Maunga. Consultation on this closed last week with about 250 submissions made, both for and against.
Te Puna man Sean Lett used SH2 north of Tauranga daily and said only about half of motorists were adhering to the new speed limit. The rest were continuing to drive at 100km/h to 110km/h - when traffic was not "crawling" due to congestion, he said.
Lett said slowing the speed limit was "not enough" to make the highway safer.
"It's not about just the crashes or the human harm. There's just too much traffic on that road ... just far too much for a two-way road."
Emergency services at a fatal crash on SH2 between Pahoia Rd and Apata Station Rd in 2018. The road's speed limit has since been reduced. Photo / NZME
Lett said the installation of "cheese cutter" wire barriers on the side of the highway made it "more dangerous" for motorists needing to pull over.
This created frustration for drivers caught behind tractors and risk for anyone breaking down or with a flat tyre, he said.
The highway was the main link between key rural Western Bay areas such as Apata and Minden, while also servicing Port of Tauranga traffic and Katikati commuters.
Lett said he was heartened the first stage of the Takitimu Northern Link (TNL) was going ahead and was hopeful about the second stage that would bring in an interchange at the "deadly" turnoff to Ōmokoroa.
Another SH2 motorist, who would not be named, said she regularly had other drivers pressuring her to speed up when she was doing the correct speed limit, which was "stressful".
Because of this, the motorist said she did not feel safer and would like to see the busy road double-laned to better cope with traffic demand.
Transport agency regional relationships director David Spiers said there were still safety upgrades under way between Waihī and Ōmokoroa which, alongside the new speed limits, would make SH2 safer for everyone.
The agency measured its success in reducing speed limits through compliance and a reduction in road trauma.
However, the agency needed "an appropriate time period to pass" before evaluating the changes, he said.
Spiers said the agency was working to shift focus from road safety to driver blame "to address what the system as a whole can do to prevent death or serious injury on our roads".
"To create a safe system, we must look at all the factors that contribute — infrastructure such as median barriers and rumble strips, safe speeds, and the safety rating of our vehicles."
Spiers said that when the agency began a safety review, it involved a technical assessment of crash history, average vehicle speeds, the volume of vehicles, and the development of surrounding areas.
Western Bay of Plenty police Inspector Zane Smith said officers continued to monitor highways with new speed limits and noticed "some improvement in driver behaviour", with most drivers behaving.
"It is important to note that there has not only been changes to the speed limits but also structural changes to the roading network. These changes are all aimed at improving road safety."
Smith asked people to allow for extra time on SH2, especially moving into summer when more people were likely to be travelling.
The crash data was provided through the agency's Crash Analysis System, which was updated once a traffic crash report was received from NZ Police. Because of this, there could be a lag with the latest data.
It was also noted that New Zealand's Covid-19 alert level 4 and 3 lockdowns which began on March 21, 2020, until May 14, 2020, greatly reduced the amount of traffic on roads - consequently reducing the number of crashes.
