Speeding motorists worry committee

Press, 30 September 1986, Page 7

Speeding motorists worry committee

Speeding Christchurch motorists are worrying the Riccarton Borough Council’s works and services committee. The committee discussed last evening a Ministry of Transport inquiry into the effects of the raised open road speed limit. The Town Clerk of Riccarton, Mr John Skinner, recommended that the committee support the present speed limits and the Ministry’s decision to keep the limits under review.

Cr Roy Lester said he could not support the recommendation. “I believe that over the last 12 months it has been speed that has been kill-

ing people,” he said. “Along Parkhouse Road,l would estimate that most of the trucks in that area are travelling at 60 or 70 miles, not kilometres an hour.”

Cr John Warren said Cr Lester was confusing the issue. The Ministry inquiry was into speed limits on the open road, not on controlled areas, he said.

Cr Lester said the open road limit affected the speed people drove at in controlled areas. Many people did not slow down enough after driving at 100 km/h he said. Cr Lester also pointed to one of the findings of the inquiry — that fatal

accidents in rural areas increased 20 per cent in the year after the new speed limit was introduced. He said the committee should support a return to the old speed limit of 80 km/h. Several other councillors said that they agreed many drivers did not keep to the speed limit in controlled areas especially in the city. However, they did not feel the open road speed limit was to blame. “I believe it is safer driving now in the 100 km/h areas,” Cr Warren said. “I feel much better on the open road.”

The committee voted to support Mr Skinner’s recommendation.