The Coalition Government will reverse Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions by July 1, 2025, through a new Land Transport Rule released for public consultation this month, says Transport Minister Simeon Brown.

The draft speed limit rule will deliver on the National-ACT coalition commitment to reverse the previous government’s blanket speed limit reductions.

Simeon says it will ensure that when speed limits are set, economic impacts – including travel times – and the views of road users and local communities are taken into account, alongside safety.

“The previous government’s untargeted approach slowed Kiwis and the economy down, rather than targeting high crash areas of the network.

Speed reversals 

“Our draft speed limit rule will require speed limits that have been reduced since January 1, 2020, to be reversed on local streets, arterial roads, and state highways. It will also require variable speed limits outside schools during pick up and drop off times to keep young New Zealanders safe.

“Local streets outside a school will be required to have a 30km/h variable speed limit during school travel times. Rural roads that are outside schools will be required to have variable speed limits of 60km/hr or less.”

Regulation Minister David Seymour says blanket restrictions forced on communities from Wellington didn’t just make it harder for people to get where they want quickly and safely, they drain the joy from life as people are forced to follow rules they know make no sense.

“Worse still, people ignore rules that don’t make sense and once the habit forms, they ignore rules that do make sense. Sensible lawmaking is important for respecting the rule of law,” says David.

Roads of significance 

Simeon says the draft speed limit rule will enable new and existing Roads of National Significance to be travelled on at 110km/h where they are built to a high safety standard.

“With the delivery of Roads of National Significance, New Zealand roads are safer than they have ever been before. Safe road infrastructure should be enabling higher speed limits, not slower ones.

“As part of consultation on the draft rule, the Government is seeking feedback from New Zealanders on enabling speed limits of up to 120km/h on Roads of National Significance that are built and maintained to safely accommodate that speed.

“I encourage New Zealanders to submit feedback on our draft speed limit rule to reverse blanket speed limit reductions across the country.”

Kiwis can provide feedback on the rule at www.transport.govt.nz Consultation on the draft Speed Rule is open until July 11, 2024.