Ask Phoebe: Anyone's guess how fast to drive

Photo / Dean Purcell

Can a road have a different speed limit in each direction? A case in point is Amreins Rd, in Waitakere. Heading south, from the junction with Taupaki Rd, it is signed as 70km/h. Heading north, from the junction with McEntee Rd, it is signed with the black and white national open road sign, ie 100km/h. As I use this road every day, I'm eagerly awaiting getting pinged by a police car and then arguing my case. Tony Smith, Waitakere.

I apologise for the delay in replying to this, Mr Smith. I had been pestering Waitakere City Council for a response, only to find it is a Rodney District Council matter.

The latter were horrified to hear of the situation and rushed out for a look. They understand your confusion - apparently the 100km/h speed limit sign, which should have been 800m south of the Taupaki intersection, has disappeared. It will be replaced as soon as possible.

And Mr Amundo of Muriwai has alerted me to a similar situation in his community, which is, unhappily, also in Rodney District.

On Oaia Rd, driving from the Constable Rd end, the speed limit is70km/h. From the Muriwai Rd end, it is 50km/h. Mr Amundo asks which it should be, and when it's going to be sorted. The answer is, again, as soon as possible. Near the Constable/Taiapa/Oaia intersection, there should be a 70km/h sign. It, too, will be replaced.

At the top of Hollyford Drive there are lights and three lanes for traffic exiting Hollyford. The left-hand lane has always been straight through and left turn only, and the right-hand lane was right turn only. So far so good. But the middle lane has been changed from straight through and right turn to right turn only. Every night I see cars drive past me, move into the middle lane, and then go straight ahead on to Everglade. Surely this is unfair to those waiting in a queue? Ryan Smith, South Auckland.

Manukau City Council was made aware that drivers were ignoring the markings and going straight ahead to Everglade from the centre lane, so a sign was erected to advise of the layout change. As this has seemingly had little effect, the council will request the police to carry out enforcement.

Every morning I use the roundabout at the intersection of Fortunes Rd, Butley Drive and Prince Regent Drive. There are no lanes marked, yet during busy times drivers form two lanes to alleviate waiting times. Surely it is illegal to form two lanes where only one is marked? I get tooted at if I drive the way I consider to be correct, and have nearly been forced off the road by drivers coming up on the inside. Are there any plans to make this officially two lanes? Camilla McConnell, Highland Park.

Manukau City Council says that the roundabout copes well with the traffic flows during the day, and only gets clogged up for a short period morning and afternoon. While a majority of drivers realise there is just about enough room to form two lanes and so turn left without holding up other traffic, the practicalities of formalising the situation are somewhat different, because of the lack of available land and the geometry of the intersection.

Thus, the status quo will remain.