Speed Limit Changes 2022

This information covers the first step in the process consulting with our community on the proposed speed limit bylaw 2022.

Speed limits in Central Otago are reviewed periodically to ensure they remain appropriate through changes to road use, align with national and local objectives, and meet the needs of the local community.

In response to community requests, speed limits across the district were reviewed and changes have been recommended. All roads have been assessed against the criteria in the Waka Kotahi Speed Management Guide.

Central Otago has had a strong period of growth since speed limits were last set. Areas that were a rural speed environment have seen an increase in usage and accessways, becoming rural-residential in nature. Some new developments have been designed as lower speed environments.

The Government Policy Statement for Land Transport, released in June 2018, included a direction to reduce road trauma on New Zealand roads through road safety improvements and ensuring safe and appropriate speed limits are in place. The proposed bylaw aligns with this objective.

What changes were proposed?

New speed limits were proposed for 70 roads, parts of roads, or areas in the Central Otago district. This included residential zones, rural roads and town centres.

	13 roads or parts of roads are proposed to reduce to 30 km/h
	5 roads or parts of roads are proposed to reduce to 40km/h, including two developments and one township
	8 roads or parts of roads are proposed to reduce to 50 km/h
	15 roads or parts of roads are proposed to reduce to 60 km/h
	28 roads or parts of roads are proposed to reduce to 80 km/h
	1 speed zone is proposed to relocate involving an increase in speed to 100 km/h

What about school speed zones?

A reduction in speed limits outside schools in the period before and after schools has been requested by the community and is supported by Council.

Changes in legislation are in the final stages of being adopted in parliament that are likely to change the process for setting school speed zones. If Council were to implement speed zones at schools as part of this bylaw it is likely they would need to be changed. For this reason, consultation on reduced speed limits at schools will be undertaken later this year when the new legislation is adopted.

Before finalising and setting any new speed limits, Council wanted to hear what our community thought about our proposals. Two-hundred and seven submissions were received.