News

Public consultation opens today on Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s proposed changes to speed limits on State Highways 1, 3 and 26 within Hamilton City. Making sure speed limits are safe and appropriate for the road is one of the best things Waka Kotahi can do to help prevent deaths and serious injuries.

“No matter what causes a crash, speed is always a factor in the severity. Put simply, the speed of impact can be the difference between walking away or being carried away from a crash,” Director Regional Relationships Steve Mutton says.

“There have been 10 people killed and 60 seriously injured in crashes on these roads in the ten years between 2009 and 2018. In 2019, the Waikato region had the highest number of road deaths in the country and we need to do something to turn this around.

“There are many cyclists, pedestrians and a greater mix of vehicle types using the state highway network in this urban environment, which creates safety issues for everyone. Ensuring safer speed limits is a relatively simple way to help reduce those safety risks for all road users.”