Editorial: Slower proves better

The speed tolerance from 10km/h to 4km/h has been a success.

A summer crackdown on drivers which has reduced the speed tolerance from 10km/h to 4km/h is being hailed a big success.

The tougher tolerance has been in place since the start of December and finishes on Friday when January comes to a close.

Last year's national road toll of 254 deaths was the lowest in 63 years. The Bay of Plenty also did better with 18 fatalities in 2013, compared with 23 the previous year, but Rotorua wasn't quite as good with seven deaths, compared with four in 2012.

Local police have noticed the lower speed tolerance has had a big impact on summer speedsters. They're not catching as many and people seem to be enjoying their travelling rather than rushing.

Personally, I've found the lower tolerance a huge help in keeping my heavy foot further back off the pedal and it's helped create better habits behind the wheel.

I've always found the 10km/h speed tolerance a bit strange. Why do we call speed limits speed limits? They are more like speed guides? It's my view that 4km/h is enough leeway to allow for those times you go a bit quicker down a hill or pass something safely that's pulled over.

A recent Herald DigiPoll survey showed the public supported lowering the speed tolerance permanently to 4km/h, with two-thirds of respondents supporting the idea.

I would have to agree. A 10km/h speed tolerance is purely just a licence to legally travel faster than you need to.