Give us your views on the review of speed limits bylaw

Waitakere City Council is seeking the community’s views on proposed changes to speed limits on sections of some of the city’s roads and outside most schools.

Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse says the review is desperately needed.

“There is overwhelming evidence that speed is the number one cause of road crashes and fatalities and that a reduction in road speed drastically reduces the damage caused in crashes.

“There is a national shift towards lower speed limits in high-risk pedestrian areas such as schools, so we are also looking at reducing the speed limit outside schools during heavy pedestrian traffic periods,“ says Cr Hulse, who is also the council’s road safety advocate.

Urban intensification into rural areas of Waitakere is another factor driving the need to review speed limits.

“We need to lower the speed limits on some stretches of road to reflect the growing suburban population,” says Cr Hulse.

“There are also a number of roads, particularly in some of our rural communities, that are just not designed for high speeds and these need to be looked at to ensure people’s safety.”

She says this is an important issue for everyone in Waitakere and urges people to make the effort to provide their views.

Submissions can be made from Monday 15 February 2010 until 5pm on Monday 29 March 2010.

The draft bylaw, a list roads being looked at in the review, affected schools, submission forms and the statement of proposal and summary information are available:
• In the Have Your Say section of the council’s website www.waitakere.govt.nz
• At the council’s office, 6 Henderson Valley Road
• Waitakere public libraries
• Community centres and Citizen Advice Bureaux
• Or contact the council’s 24-hour call centre on 839 0400 to request an information pack.

Submissions must be received no later than 5pm Monday 29 March 2010.

ENDS

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