Wellington city speed limit reducing to 30kmh?

[rustyrobot]

A proposal to lower the speed limit in Wellington's central city to 30km/h is open for public comment from Tuesday 04 February. Closing date is 09 March.

http://wellington.govt.nz/have-your-...er-speed-limit

I don't know, perhaps I'm being a bit pessimistic. It sucks that people die on the roads, especially when it's kids. It's true that we have poorly designed roading that doesn't encourage good sharing from pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. But with the continuing reduction in speed around schools and suburban areas, and the trialled reduction in the speed tolerance it all feels like we're winding back the clock a bit. How long until we get back to....



Under the UK's Locomotive Act 1865, anyone driving a car in town had to be led by a man who walked in front of the car, carrying a red flag -- to prevent 'fatal accidents'.

(This was when top speed was 32 km/h).

More on the proposed reduction here:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK140...s-tomorrow.htm

[Robbo]

Might not be a bad idea in the CBD, but having said that, what are the statistics on vehicles vs pedestrians in the last twelve months that would justify this suggestion?

[Scuba_Steve]

Because Wellington streets weren't bad enough, now everyone should stare at speedos (not the togs) rather than the road.
Pedestrians not watching the vehicles & drivers not watching the road... yep this is gonna end well

[SMOKEU]

A proposal to lower the speed limit in Wellington's central city to 30km/h is open for public comment from Tuesday 04 February.

I don't see the point, as if Wellingon drivers are anything like Christchurch drivers, 30kmh actually means 40-50kmh. I've seen very few drivers who actually travel any slower unless the road is majorly fucked.

[rustyrobot]

Don't worry, you get to play too SMOKEU:
"In Christchurch, the city centre will have a safer speed limit and Auckland is planning the same for new suburbs."

I know it's selfish and a first world problem and all that, but my bike really doesn't like going at 30km/h. Still - if we could show almost zero motorbike vs pedestrian fatalities in Wellington CBD we'd all get an exemption right?

[Scuba_Steve]

I don't see the point, as if Wellingon drivers are anything like Christchurch drivers, 30kmh actually means 40-50kmh. I've seen very few drivers who actually travel any slower unless the road is majorly fucked.

Na well there's the worst part, CBD most drivers are doing little more than 30km/h anyways most times of the day; This will do nothing but make the roads more dangerous.

Best thing they could do to the CBD is remove speed limits & make it a "shared zone"... But then that would be something towards road safety & there's no money in road safety

[pzkpfw]

Adults walking/jogging in front of buses. (Busses?).

The speed of the bus isn't the problem.


(No idea about the stats for people vs. car; but people vs. bus seems to get all the press.)


Darwin FTW.

[Rhys]

If pedestrians could keep to foot paths and designated crossings it would go along way to eliminating the accidents
I have had people walk into my truck when it has been parked !

[jellywrestler]

when is the last time a child has been knocked over in the streets? they're taught, they listen and they behave, the idiots that are being knocked over are the adults who should know better.

[Gremlin]

Can we prevent people from using their mobiles while walking? I swear, people pay no attention to where they are walking etc...

[James Deuce]

It's true that we have poorly designed roading that doesn't encourage good sharing from pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.

No we don't. We have stupid, discourteous fuckheads who think that they're more important than anyone else. Especially when they're talking on a phone or listening to their iPod. Kiwis a re the world's worst jaywalkers. We need beat cops who will cuff and arrest jaywalkers and shoot people resisting arrest for jaywalking like they did in the '90s in New York.

If you aren't intelligent enough to use the resources that are made available to you for the purpose of commerce, recreation, and travel, then get the big roll of bubblewrap and stay the fuck home.

Being kind to other people INCLUDES not stepping out in front of a bus driver because you're inattentive and leaving that driver with the guilt of an unavoidable death.

[Ocean1]

Meh.

Like I need another reason to stay away.

[Akzle]

fuck it. I might kill everyone. Jews first. At some point natural deaths > akz inflicted deaths and we will have reached a sensible population. Those of us left.

[rustyrobot]

No we don't.

Yes we do.

I'll never know why someone thought it was a good idea to pit left turning traffic against pedestrians, and cycle lanes are laughable (where they exist at all). I'm not denying there's some stupid pedestrians out there (also stupid cyclists, stupid car drivers, stupid bus drivers and stupid motorcyclists), but some of this stupidity could be countered by keeping these people further separated.

[imdying]

I don't see the point, as if Wellingon drivers are anything like Christchurch drivers, 30kmh actually means 40-50kmh. I've seen very few drivers who actually travel any slower unless the road is majorly fucked.

I think Chch drivers have reached saturation level, and you eventually get sick of driving past yet another unattended roadworks, with cones for no reason.

CBD Wellington pedestrians die because they're fuckwits who get what they deserve. Their bus drivers shouldn't even be required to stop if the person they run over is on a cell phone.