Call for speed limit setting flexibility for local communities

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 684, 29 April 1997, Page 6

Call for speed limit setting flexibility for local communities

Achieving national uniformity in speed limits must be balanced by responsiveness to the local community, according to the president of the New Zealand Local Authority Traffic Institute, David Close, of Christchurch. He was commenting on a proposal by the Land Transport Safety Authority to delegate to local authorities the responsibility for setting speed limits on roads within their area. The principle of delegating this. responsibility is excellent, said Mr Close, but the guidelines are so rigid that some people are calling it a "Clayton' s" delegation. The proposed LTSA rules allow almost no flexibility at all. The proposed delegation is based on a computer programme entitled "Speed Limits New Zealand," which analyses road survey data and calculates the appropriate

speed limit. The LTSA proposes the mandatory use of the computer programme with apparently no ability to vary the decision it turns out. The computer programme, which has been tested in Christchurch, is, no doubt, an excellent tool, but it should not be the sole arbiter of speed limits. Another concern some local authorities have is that the LTSA proposes that local authorities should arrange an annual independent audit to check compliance with the rules laid down by the LTSA. Whilst periodic audits and reviews are obviously necessary, requiring an annual audit, appears to be expensive, bureaucratic overkill. TRAFINZ is seeking the views of local authorities on the LTSA proposals and will co-ordinate a submission to the LTSA.