Petition for speed reduction over three bridges on SH1

Northland rescue helicopter ambassador Alice Rule is leading the call for a lower speed limit.

Northland rescue helicopter ambassador Alice Rule has launched an online petition (www.change.org) calling for a reduction in the 100km/h speed limit over the three bridges on SH1 at at Kawakawa.

Ms Rule, who co-owns a dairy farm at Pakaraka, said two people had died and three were critically injured on the bridges within the last three months.

Last month a motorcyclist became Northland's first road fatality of 2019 in a collision with a truck on the middle bridge, and two years ago Ms Rule had had a close call herself.

An oncoming car that was overtaking other traffic pulled back into the correct lane just in time.

At last report her petition had more than 400 signatures, and she was aiming for 1000.

And she has the support of the Kawakawa Business Association and the local fire brigade.

"There are multiple speed adjustments in and out of Moerewa on far less dangerous stretches of road. Two deaths and three people airlifted off those bridges since November last year is too many," she said.

"We are asking for NZTA to listen to Northland police, Fire and Emergency to make our roads safe. Red tape is costing Northlanders' lives, and impacting families losing their loved ones."

The NZTA is reviewing speed limits on the highest-risk routes around the country as part of its Safe Network programme, but state highways north of Whangārei are not on the list. Auckland, Waikato and Canterbury have been identified as the priority regions for the first phase of the three-year programme.

Kawakawa Business Association chairman Malcolm Francis said he complained about the speed limit to former Transport Minister Simon Bridges in 2017, and had since contacted the NZTA, but so far nothing had been done.

"The speed is 100km/h until about 20m from the gateway to Kawakawa, and we've got mums with their children pulling out of the early childhood centre. It's a black spot," he said.

Chief Fire Officer Wayne Martin, who was first on the scene at last month's fatality, said he would support any initiative that saved people's lives.

"The Three Bridges is a narrow piece of state highway, and lowering the speed limit may avoid higher impact during crashes or drivers may have time to slow down and avoid a collision," he said.

Labour list MP Willow-Jean Prime said she would raise the issue with Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter.