B Page 1 of 27 EDITORSPEAK … email Trevor
[email protected] Well, they have been and gone and done it. Auckland Transport have announced they will introduce sweeping changes to speed limits as they signalled some time ago. As I have commented before their rationale is that “inappropriate speed” contributes to 20% of deaths and serious injuries in the Super City. So, from June next year the CBD will be saddled with a blanket 30 kph speed limit, and many of the Franklin and Rodney rural roads will reduce from 100 kph to 80 or 60 kph. A record 11722 submissions were received, of which 2503 were in support, 3317 against and the balance had no firm stance. I could point out that 80% of deaths and injuries have no connection with inappropriate speed. I could surmise that the decision largely flies in the face of public opinion. I could wish them luck in getting public buy-in and compliance. I could question how a major regulatory constraint on all rate payers can be decided by unelected bureaucrats rather than the Council. But frankly, why bother? They are Council Controlled Organisation but seem to have an independence that suggests no Council control exists. I sincerely hope I am proved wrong, but I foresee very little change to the accident statistics and very little adherence to the new limits. Enough said... I have been following the MotoGP with interest this season (yes, I know they are missing 2 wheels) and it’s been well worth it. With World Champion Marc Marquez being given a curry up by the rookie Quartararo, privateer teams often out-performing the factory teams and some scintillating racing it has been great to watch.