l00km/h is the limit—survey

Press, 28 December 1985, Page 1

l00km/h is the limit —survey

Most New Zealanders support the open-road speed limit of 100 km/h. Sixty-three per cent of -respondents expressed such support in the latest “New Zealand Herald”—National Research Bureau survey. Ten per cent supported an even faster speed limit of up to 120 km/h. However, a reduction to 80 km/h was supported by 24 per cent. Those are the findings of a “Herald”N.R.B. survey held between December 7 and 14 in the. country’s 20 main population centres. The survey covered 1000 men and 1000 women aged 16 and over, selected on a random probability basis. Interviews were face-to-face. Times change. In January 1974, less than two months after the speed limit was reduced because of the oil shock, a “Herald”-N.R.B. poll found 74 per cent support for the new limit of 50 miles an hour (80 km/h) to be made permanent. A year later, opinion had not altered. A “Herald”-N.R.B. poll in January, 1975, found 76 per cent in favour of continuing the 50-mile-an-hour limit. No further direct question about the speed limit has been asked until now, but in March, 1979, during another oil shock, the subject was mentioned obliquely in a “Herald”-N.R.B. poll inquiring about preferred methods of control-

ling petrol consumption. Rationing was the first choice (32 per cent) from a range of options. “Harsher penalties for exceeding speed limits” was the fourth choice, with 11 per cent support. Post-war speed limits on the open roads have been:— January, 1949; 50 miles an hour (80 km/h), raised from 40 miles an hour (64 km/h) imposed in 1942 as a wartime tyre-saving measure. January, 1962: 55 miles an hour (88 km/h). May, 1969: 60 miles an hour (96 km/h) on specified highways, mainly motorways. December, 1973: 50 miles an hour, imposed as a petrol-saving measure in fhp oil Cthnck July, 1985:’ 100 km/h (62 miles an hour), approved after a Parliamentary committee concluded that the 80 km/h limit had become virtually unenforceable. This month’s “Herald”-N.R.B. survey asked the question: “Which of the speed limits on this card do you think is most appropriate for New Zealand’s open roads?” The options on the card were:— 1. No more than 80 km/h. 2. No more than 100 km/h. 3. No more than 120 km/h. The responses were:—

The poll figures are subject to a maximum statistical sampling error of plus or minus 2 per cent. Opinions from various parts of the country show no particular trends or differences, but preferences according to age reveal substantial variations. While a substantial proportion of those aged 55 and over would lower the speed limit and hardly any would raise it, the balance of opinion among those aged 16 to 24 who favour a change would raise the limit rather than lower it. The views of the five age groups are shown in the following table:—

Total Men Women Favoured limit % % % No more than 80 24 18 31 No more than 100 63 68 59 No more than 120 10 12 7 Some other limit/no opinion 3 2 3

16-24 25-34 Age group 35-44 45-54 55 plus Favoured limit % % % % % No more than 80 12 16 24 23 44 No more than 100 68 71 64 65 50 No more than 120 16 11 9 11 3 Some other limit/no opinion 4 2 3 1 3 Copyright 1985 — The “New Zealand Herald.”