COUNTY TO PRESS ON FOR 30MPH

Taupo Times, Volume 23, Issue 61, 1 August 1974, Page 1

COUNTY TO PRESS ON FOR 30MPH

The Taupo County Council is to press ahead for a 30 m.p.h, speed limit on State Highway No. 1 where t passes through Waitahanui village. it has taken this stand despite information from the Ministry of Transpot that the stretch does not rate a lower » limit. The present speed restrictions 40 m.p.h., but the councii wants it reduced because of the liazard to pedestrians.

» "The Ministry has not given due regard to the overload in holiday time , % because of the tourist potential of the world famous Waitahanui trout stream," said the county chairman, Mr J. M. Black, on Tuesday. The county clerk, Mr C. J. Coates, suggested the council ask for a 30 m.p.h. limit for a trial period of a year. Earlier this year, local residents threatened to tear down the 40 m.p.h. signs at Waitahanui because of the danger to pedestrians from speeding motorists. This followed the death of a child and the serious injury of her companion after the two were struck by a car. About 5 x people have been killed on the highway through the village in the last 15 years. * , But, although it says it is • » aware of the concern expressed by Waitahanui residents, the Ministry of Transport feels that to lower the speed limit would ; not prove to be a solution to the problem. Writing to the county council on behalf of the northern regional director of the Road Transport , Division, Mr D. G. Houghton said that the Ministry of Transport, the National Roads Board and the Automobile Association had all recommended retaining the present speed limit. According to the M.O.T. speed limit rating system, the Waitahanui area only marginally justified a 40 * m.p.h. restriction and fell » i

well shortof warranting a 30 m.p.h. imit, he said. Rating as based on the conflictingpedestrian and traffic m|ements which roadside dveiopment gave rise to, takig into account the adequ:y or otherwise of the roacVay. Full accjjnt was taken of houses, chools, shops, motels, theoadway width, parking a\ilability, and the presencior absence of footpaths. "The spet limit rating at WaitahanT 5ver ""The 1.35 miles f the present restriction 7.7. The M.O.T . wa:ant requires an average tte of at least eight to justir a 40 m.p.h. area and a, least 15 to justify 30 m.lh." said Mr Houghton. "In calcufing the rating for Waiihanui. each house has assumed to be a 1 permantit home. In fact, 51 outof 91 are holiday homesso that even the rating of'7.7 js over_ stated." He said tht highway at Waitahanui *s a. major through roj. While through traffumight tend to obey the present 40 m.p.h. restrijoni there might not b( the same consideration ven to an even lower *.ed jimit/ which would ppear less reasonable. Veide speeds could, in fact,be higher than within th^xisting 40 m.p.h. restrictii fhere had )een four pedestrian injui accidepts since 1970, an(hv0 fatal acctdent^. All hj involved childreEu:inoving)n to t"he roadway "l&eedl| 0f traf. fic." ——————— v ,

In one case, two children ran on to the road in front of a car when it was between 10 and 20 feet away. "Three of the accidents occurred during the day on Saturday or Sunday and the fourth was about 7 p.m. on a summer Friday, so children going to and from school do not seem to be causing the problem," said Mr Houghton. "In two of the accidents, the estimated speed of the vehicles before the collision was 30 m.p.h. In the other two (one of them outside the 40 m.p.h. restriction area), estimated vehicle speed was 45 m.p.h., but in both oases it is doubtful whether the accident would have been prevented by a 30 m.p.h. speed restriction." Mr Houghton said officers were currently investigating alternative methods of improving the safety aspects of the area, and were working in conjunction with the Ministry of

Works and Development. Mr G. A. Thompson said he was worried that the i growth taking place at : Waitahanui with subdivi- j sion work would aggravate j the sitUation. : The riding member for j Mangakino, Mr V. G. \ Skilton, suggested motor- j ists use the alternative ■ route on the western side of ; the lake — State Highway i 32 — to avoid speed : restrictions on the Taupo j side. Mr J. T. Asher: "People ■ always seem to be milling i round in the general area : of the Waitahanui River. i Without the river, I doubt \ if we would have the same ■ problem. This is a unique ; situation because of this ; world famous trout stream." i Mr L. G. Hucks, who i lives at Waitahanui, said i there were many people j about at this time of the ; year "when the fish are | supposed to be running" and anglers brought their families with them at weekends.