Lower speed limits on way

Motorists will face lower speed limits at 40 sites around New Zealand this year, in trials prompted by concern that an ambitious road-toll reduction target may not be met.

Land Transport New Zealand has yet to select the sites, but will do so in consultation with the public and local authorities in time for the first trials to start in July.

Transport Safety Minister Harry Duynhoven says the aim is to adjust speed limits to the conditions of particular stretches of road, rather than rely on the standard 100km/h.

Limits would be set according to such conditions as whether roads were straight or curved, had wide shoulders or narrow verges, or had safety barriers or undivided lanes.

Mr Duynhoven said this would help to safeguard motorists who drove too fast for the conditions even if within the existing speed limit.

He said speed remained the country's biggest road safety problem, and acknowledged that it had to be tackled more vigorously to meet a target of no more than 300 deaths a year by 2010.

Last year's toll was 435, which was 26 fewer than in 2003 but seven per cent higher than a 40-year low achieved in 2002.

Speed was blamed for about 35 per cent of last year's road deaths, and drink-driving for 30 per cent.

"To achieve the goal of no more than 300 fatalities by 2010, we need to focus more strongly on making our roads and roadsides safer and to refine how we talk with the community about speed issues," Mr Duynhoven said.

"If the trials are successful, it will help correct the current situation where we put the same 100km/h speed limit on a four-lane divided motorway as an undivided rural road with a high traffic volume."

He appealed to drivers this Christmas to use good judgment regardless of the standard limit, and to slow down on winding roads or in bad weather and heavy traffic.

They should also keep a close check on how tired they became on long journeys, he said.