Speed limits under the microscope

LOOKING FOR CHANGE: Phil Cregeen of Waikaraka wants to see the speed limit on Whangarei Heads Rd lowered. PHOTO/JOHN STONE

Speed limits in Whangarei will be reviewed next year, with sites in the central business district, Waipu, Ngunguru and Whangarei Heads potentially in line for change.

Whangarei District Council roading manager Jeff Devine said the council would probably review its Speed Limit Bylaw next year, which governed speeds on the district's 1780km of local roads.

The review would come once the New Zealand Transport Agency finalised its Setting of Speed Limits Rule, the guiding legislation for councils.

Mr Devine said Cove Rd at Waipu, Vinegar Hill Rd, and Whangarei's Waikaraka, McLeod Bay and Urquhart's Bay stood out as places where changes would be looked at following community requests, though the review would consider all roads in the district.

The possibility of a 30km/h limit in the CBD would also be looked at.

Waikaraka resident Phil Cregeen recently submitted a 52-signature petition to the council, asking for a lower speed limit on Whangarei Heads Rd at Waikaraka.

The 1km stretch which ran through Waikaraka was 70km/h, which Mr Cregeen said should be lowered to 50km/h.

Some residents were fearful leaving their driveways and were unable to walk along the roadside due to drivers doing speeds upwards of 100km/h, he said.

I got to asking around the neighbours and everybody thought it ought to be lower,

Phil Cregeen

Mr Cregeen said.

He said he was happy with the council response that a review was coming up.

"We realised it wouldn't happen overnight."

Mr Devine said the council received "numerous requests" to change speeds limits, though these were sometimes related to enforcement problems rather than the actual limits.

He said he hoped the new rules would allow the council more flexibility.

"The old rules are quite restrictive," Mr Devine said.

"There is a process for setting speed limits based on the surrounding environment. Part of that is to make sure they look the same no matter where you are in the country, as people often drive to how the road feels."