It might be that I’m getting older, but I welcome the Waka Kotahi idea of reducing the speed limits in places. I was a complete speed nut most of my life and did some spectacularly quick drives from place to place over the years. I came from a family which always asked after a drive “what time did you do it in?”
I remember being caught doing 130kph in my vintage when I was in a “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle maintenance” moment in the McKenzie country. The mountains were beckoning. The road was smooth. The car was purring. I’d driven past where we were to turn off. The cold wind was blowing through my body (it was in June). There were few vehicles on the road. Except. Around a corner. A cop. With a radar.
That added to the weekend costs.
Why have I changed? Because not everybody can handle speed. Because speed kills.
I travelled to a Board meeting at Kaikoura every 6 weeks and was annoyed when the speed limit around the waterfront was lowered to 80kph. Instead of rushing around the corners at maximum speed finding the apex of the corner to minimise the time it took to get there, I slowed down. I was forced to by some erk who for a time I detested. Then I had time to take in the beauty of the scenery. Instead of the apex of the corners. I then started travelling slower than 80kph. The beauty of our country started to sink in.
I now travel slower. Thanks to that road and the erk.
So, go for it Waka Kotahi. Drop the speed limits. Make it 80kph everywhere on the open road. We will then probably use less fuel.
Comments
Mark T Leggettsays
Fair comments. I spent six years travelling over the Rimutaka Hill north of Wellington (a commute) and was always stunned to see the 100kph signs ON. THE. HILL.
While it was fun to see how well (read fast) you could get over the hill once you got to know it., the truth was that unless the road was clear, it was a dangerous prospect. There are really on a couple of places on that road where 100kph is feasible and the corner at the far end was always a reality check.. In some cases it was a gravity check as inevitably someone (probably not actually speeding), would investigate the drop off on a regular basis. Until the geniuses at whatever central or local roading department figured out that armco across the whole hill might be a good idea. Even then, did they commence the retrofit where the last person went over? Nope. Started at the bottom. Probably a reason for it but we’ll never know.
In short – is there a good rationale for a range of better placed speed limits? Yes. Is there a good argument for safety equipment being placed where it should always have been (i.e. other than a lick of white paint on the seven wire fence posts)? Absolutely.
Fair comments. I spent six years travelling over the Rimutaka Hill north of Wellington (a commute) and was always stunned to see the 100kph signs ON. THE. HILL.
While it was fun to see how well (read fast) you could get over the hill once you got to know it., the truth was that unless the road was clear, it was a dangerous prospect. There are really on a couple of places on that road where 100kph is feasible and the corner at the far end was always a reality check.. In some cases it was a gravity check as inevitably someone (probably not actually speeding), would investigate the drop off on a regular basis. Until the geniuses at whatever central or local roading department figured out that armco across the whole hill might be a good idea. Even then, did they commence the retrofit where the last person went over? Nope. Started at the bottom. Probably a reason for it but we’ll never know.
In short – is there a good rationale for a range of better placed speed limits? Yes. Is there a good argument for safety equipment being placed where it should always have been (i.e. other than a lick of white paint on the seven wire fence posts)? Absolutely.