Some people may remember the Government campaign in trying to reduce crashes and deaths on the roads that read Speed Kills – Slow Down. More recently the message has been Less Speed Less Harm.
Transport Minister Simeon does not seem to share that view and the recent announcement of increased speeds for the Kāpiti Expressway appear to confirm that. The new 110kph speed limit on the Kāpiti Expressway will come into effect on Wednesday 13 November.
The new limit will apply to 24.5 km of the state highway from north of Poplar Avenue at Raumati interchange to south of the Ōtaki northern interchange.
The Government announced plans to raise the speed limit on the expressway, designated a Road of National Significance (RoNS), in September.
Transport Minister Brown says the faster speed limit would cut down travel times and increase efficiency. He had not ruled out quicker speeds on Transmission Gully.
“The Mackays to Peka Peka and Peka Peka to Ōtaki RoNS, which make up the Kāpiti Expressway, were started by the previous National government and were designed and constructed to a high safety standard,” he says. “Since these roads opened, no-one has died in a crash.”
Detractors of the increased speeds will no doubt be hoping the reason that has been the case is because the speed limit is lower than it will be on Wednesday.
It would seem regardless of the Minister’s views Police are holding to the slogan Less Speed Less Harm. Police remind motorists that the 110kph is a limit and not a target.
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