New riles by the New Zealand Transport Agency have guided councils to prepare a long-term speed management plan.
The plans will slow Christchurch traffic down over ten years. The Christchurch City Council is proposing that urban streets have a speed limit of 10 kilometres per hour in shared spaces, with other changes to follow.
These changes are a 20km/h speed limit in settlements along coastline, and 30km/h speeds for local residential streets and outside schools and marae. This includes high-activity locations such as larger shopping centres and the central city.
Also changing are busier main streets, set to become 40km/h. Main streets that connect people to key destinations such as Linwood Ave and Blenheim Rd will become 50 kilometres per hour.
Rural roads – such as those in Banks Peninsula – are set to adopt 60km/h and 80km/h speed limits.
Transport operations manager Steven Wright says improving road safety is a key priority for the Christchurch City Council. He says the evidence shows safer speeds save lives.
“If a pedestrian is hit by a car travelling at 50km/h, there is only a 20% chance they will survive. At 30km/h, the survival rate increases significantly to 90%.”
“The vision and principles of the Draft Safer Speed Plan have been informed by residents’ feedback on our interim plan. This latest consultation is an opportunity for people to let us know if they have anything else they want us to consider,” Steven says.
“Slower speeds help everybody to feel safer and more welcome when travelling our streets, including people who are walking and cycling. Whether you’re visiting whānau and friends, letting tamariki walk, scooter or bike to school, or driving to work or home again, you should be able to do it safely.”
Submissions on the Draft Safer Speed Plan closes on Wednesday 25 October 2023.
For more information, visit the Council’s website here: https://newsline.ccc.govt.nz/news/story/lets-talk-about-speed-limits-in-christchurch-and-banks-peninsula
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