This website has changed

This is the former Waitakere City Council website, which has some of the information and services you need if you live or do business in the area. Go to the main Auckland Council website to access the complete range of council services.

Have your say on the Speed Limits Bylaw

15 February - 29 March 2010

Submissions closed 5pm 29 March 2010

Overview	Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find out more?	Appendices
Making a submission	Links

Overview

Council is seeking the community's views on a review of the Waitakere City Speed Limits Bylaw 2005. Over the past three years council has liaised with the New Zealand Transport Agency and the New Zealand Police to look at how the safety of pedestrians and road users around a number of school entrances and high speed sections of some roads can be improved. The result is a proposed reduction of speed limits in these areas.

Vehicle speed is the leading cause of road crashes and fatalities in New Zealand. It is a well known fact that reducing the speed vehicles travel at reduces the severity of crashes.

Council has determined that a bylaw is the most appropriate means to impose maximum speed limits on roads, for the purpose of protecting, promoting and maintaining public health and safety.

Council has drafted a bylaw in accordance with the Local Government Act 2002 (LGA 2002) and the Land Transport Rule 54001: Setting of Speed Limits 2003. The bylaw sets maximum speed limits that will apply to each road or section of road under the control of Waitakere City Council. The changes to be made from the 2005 bylaw are identified in Appendix A .

The maximum speed limits under the bylaw are only applicable where a lesser speed limit is not imposed or implied by the Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 due to other factors such as:

the class of vehicle being driven;
the available stopping distance;
road geometry;
road conditions and/or weather conditions; or
the requirement to comply with other traffic controls (signs and road markings).

The proposed changes call for a variable speed limit near schools to increase pedestrian safety during high traffic periods. The reduction from 50kph to 40kph is expected to apply for a maximum period of:

35 minutes before the start of school;
20 minutes at the end of school, beginning no earlier than 5 minutes before the end of school; and
10 minutes at any other time when at least 50 children cross the road or enter or leave vehicles at the roadside.

Where a school zone contains more than one school and their start/end times differ, the operating times of the zone may exceed the stated figures that are the maximums for an individual school. This is in line with variable speed restrictions for schools in other parts of the region.

The bylaw will be enforced by the New Zealand Police.

The Statement of Proposal including the draft bylaw is in Appendix A. You can also request a copy of the Statement of Proposal be sent to you by calling the council's 24-hour call centre.

How do I find out more?

You can pick up a feedback form from Waitakere City Council, any Waitakere Public Library, Community Centre or Citizen's Advice Bureau.

You can also request feedback forms and/or a copy of the Statement of Proposal be sent to you by calling the council's 24-hour call centre. There is also a list of relevant websites below where you can read more about road safety in New Zealand.

Making a submission

Submissions closed 5pm on Monday 29 March 2010.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why don't the proposed speed restrictions apply to all schools in Waitakere?
There are a small number of schools that for one or several of the following reasons are not included in this proposed bylaw change:

pupil headcount is under 70;
location down a long driveway where roadside pickup and drop off does not occur;
pupils are primarily residential so there aren't high foot traffic levels at roadside on a daily basis;
location in a cul de sac; or
the school is on a road designated as a state highway (e.g. Hobsonville) where council does not have jurisdiction over the setting of speed limits

However, we encourage you to make a submission requesting the inclusion of a school in order for it to be reconsidered.

Why hasn't the road outside my house been included?
The roads and stretches of roads were identified in conjunction with the New Zealand Transport Agency. The criteria for selection were based on the population density in specific areas e.g. rural areas having more residents living there as a result of an increase in lifestyle blocks and residential housing.

Can my road be considered for a reduction in speed?
We encourage you to make a written submission as part of this consultation.

Why don't you make the speed reduction less/more?
The New Zealand Transport Agency and council have applied a number of measurement criteria to each stretch of road so they can identify the appropriate speed restriction for that area and ensure consistency in the application of speed restrictions across the city.

The speed on my road is fine, I don't want it changed
We encourage you to make a submission to ensure that your views are heard by council before a final decision is made.

Why are you doing this now?
The Local Government Act 2002 requires that council reviews its bylaws within four years from its last review. This bylaw must be reviewed before 30 June 2010.

Why don't you leave this until the new Auckland Council starts so that changes happen simultaneously across the region?
Council is legally required to carry out the review and implementation in 2010. This bylaw must be reviewed by 30 June 2010.

Is this only happening in Waitakere?
Other local councils are responsible for setting the timing and implementation of any changes to bylaws affecting their regions.

How will we know what speed to drive at?
If there is a reduction in the speed limit, the changes to current speed limits will be clearly signposted in the affected areas.

How will the speed restriction rule apply to schools?
The proposed changes call for a variable speed limit near schools to increase pedestrian safety during high traffic periods. The reduction from 50kph to 40kph is expected to apply for a maximum period of:

35 minutes before the start of school;
20 minutes at the end of school, beginning no earlier than 5 minutes before the end of school; and
10 minutes at any other time when at least 50 children cross the road or enter or leave vehicles at the roadside.

Where a school zone contains more than one school and their start/end times differ the operating times of the zone may exceed the stated figures that are the maximums for an individual school. This is in line with variable speed restrictions for schools in other parts of the region.

The speed limit will apply to the sections of road listed in Appendix B during the times set out on fixed school zone signs or when school zone variable speed limit signs are activated, as authorised by New Zealand Gazette Notice Number 3459. At all other times the speed limit applying will be a speed limit of either 50kph or 70kph as specified in Appendix B.

When are all these changes happening?
As there is a significant number of areas affected, changes to the speed limits will roll out over the course of 2010 with completion anticipated by the end of the year.

Appendices

Note: You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer in order to view and print these documents. For help opening PDF files or tips on copying information see Helpful Tips.

A. Statement of Proposal (including draft bylaw) (Size 586K)
B. List of affected roads and schools (Size 37K)
C. Map of affected roads(Size 413K)
D. Submission form (Size 98K)
E. Colouring in Activity Sheet (Size 146K)
F. Statement of Information flyer (Size 148K)