New Zealand's first weather-activated speed sign system will soon be trialled on State Highway 29 through the Kaimai Ranges – a stretch of road deemed to be high-risk.
The two-year trial is due to start in the middle of this month and will see 22 electronic speed signs that will be set up between SH29 and Soldiers Road on the Tauranga side, and the SH28 junction on the Waikato side.
Variable speed signs will be located on a 12km stretch of the Kaimai Ranges showing enforceable lower speeds during bad weather.
The NZ Transport Agency will monitor weather stations at the summit and activate the signs in times of bad weather – the signs will see speeds reduced from 100km/h to 80km/h at Soldiers Road and 60km/h at the junction.
The signs will also be used to drop speed limits to lower if needs be for a crashes or road works.
Police will actively enforce the speed limits with the aim of reducing crashes on the stretch of highway.
According to NZTA data 70 per cent of crashes on the Kaimai Ranges occur in wet weather, with 40 per cent of these caused by drivers travelling too fast for the conditions.
SH29 is reported to as a high volume national strategic route with about 9000 vehicles using the road daily, including 1300 heavy vehicles.
7 comments
A great idea...
Posted on 16-10-2014 09:01 | By penguin
...but it will only work if reinforced by issuing speeding tickets to those who think the signs don't apply to them.
Poor odds
Posted on 16-10-2014 10:49 | By mutley
40% of 70% is only 28% so what measures are the Police planning to reduce the remaining 72% of crashes that will not be improved by this speed reduction method ? Time to think outside the square guys and stop blaming speed for accidents that are not caused by speed. How about randomly stopping cars on the road to see if their tyres are fit for purpose ?
*555
Posted on 16-10-2014 12:13 | By Kaimai
Was passed yesterday by someone trying to go into orbit - would have been great to have an officer posted near the summit to intercept the wannabe astronaut. Weather conditions were fantastic but still too fast for the conditions.
The stat's..
Posted on 16-10-2014 13:55 | By What?
show that the majority of crashes are caused by people who are not travelling too fast. Why not concentrate on them? Oh, of course, there's no money to be made out of that. Best target the faster drivers!
Why stop at this road?
Posted on 16-10-2014 14:18 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
Every road has inclement weather. The road code says "Reduce your speed according to the conditions." Is this revenue gathering or will it reduce accidents? Time will tell.
A lot of irrelevant info there
Posted on 16-10-2014 15:12 | By the real story please
70% of what is how many??? The real issue is having the road so well policed they aren't catching enough speedsters to make it viable to patrol anymore. I am pretty sure the new limits won't apply to me because I am an awesome driver
Overit
Posted on 17-10-2014 12:43 | By milka
Bout time they started targeting drivers doing more than ten kms under the speed limit like Aussie traffic then flows much better . Sick of travelling between kati and tauranga at 60 km/hr
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