Low speed limit mitigates deaths

A $16 million suite of works to improve safety on the northern side of the Brynderwyns is going ahead, above, despite no fatal crashes on that side of the hill since the speed limit was reduced to 80km/h in 2010. Photo / Michael Cunningham

A reduction in the speed limit on the northern side of the Brynderwyn Hills to 80km/h nearly five years ago has paid dividends with no fatalities or even crashes involving serious injury reported since.

Figures obtained from the New Zealand Transport Agency shows since the speed was lowered from 100km/h to 80km/h in May 2010, there have been 22 minor or non-injury crashes in the area.

NZTA's Auckland and Northland Highway Manager Brett Gliddon said travelling too fast for the conditions was identified by police as a factor in just seven crashes on the northern side. However, three deaths and serious injuries have resulted from 42 crashes on the southern side since May 2010.

Again, speeding was identified as a factor in 11 of those crashes.

Last month, NZTA started work on the $16 million safety improvement project on the northern side to address the crashes that relate to vehicles crossing the centreline. The work will also help to build greater resilience into the network by reducing traffic delays which result from crashes.

Northland road policing manager Inspector Murray Hodgson said international research by road experts have shown reduced speed limits significantly reduced serious or fatal crashes.

He said police supported NZTA and other relevant agencies in their proposal to reduce the speed limit to 80km/h.

"Obviously the engineering aspect, reduced speed limit on that stretch, and police strenuously patrolling all combined to reduce crashes," he said.

Mr Hodgson said travelling too fast for the conditions and being unable to deal with the situation when things went wrong were identified as the biggest contributors to crashes, particularly on the northern side of the hill.

He said the southern end had more twists and turns and unfortunately serious crashes continued to happen on that stretch.

"You make a mistake there, your options are limited," he said.

Road Safe Northland Whangarei co-ordinator Gillian Archer said a reduction in speed limit was not sufficient to lower crashes and added it was incumbent on the community to adhere to new posted speed limits. Fatigue, she said, was another biggest contributor to road crashes.

NZTA is currently focused on widening about 5km of the highway to enable the installation of a wire rope median and wire rope on both sides of the highway. This work will continue throughout the year. Mr Gliddon said work was progressing well.

No bridge will be constructed as part of the project.