Road freight association Transporting New Zealand says it is disappointed with Tasman District Council’s decision to proceed with widespread speed limit reductions across the district, saying that they simply don’t stack up. 

“On many of the roads where speed reductions have been approved, the mean operating speed is already well below the new limit, which makes the cost of implementing the changes and the return on investment highly questionable,” says Membership Manager Lindsay Calvi-Freeman. 

Examples include: 

1. Goodall Road: will drop from 100 to 60 km/h, yet vehicles only average 36 km/h. 

2. Riwaka–Kaiteriteri Road: will drop from 80 to 60 km/h, but the mean operating speed is 

already just 46 km/h. 

3. Sandy Bay–Marahau Road: will drop from 80 to 60 km/h, but with a mean operating speed 

of 56 km/h, it’s already under the new limit. 

“With safety gains ranging from nil to marginal, this is another example of symbolic changes being prioritised over genuine improvements,” Calvi-Freeman says. 

“Crash data shows these reductions will deliver virtually no safety improvements, yet the council seems happy to spend ratepayer money regardless.” 

Calvi-Freeman says the council had supported some of Transporting New Zealand’s feedback, including opting to use advisory signs on some roads, instead of needlessly signposting blanket speed reductions. 

“However, the need for advisory signs on most of those roads is still highly questionable. Instead of prioritising investment on real roading improvements, the council is spending money on things that by its own admission will make little if any difference,” says Calvi-Freeman.