The Impact of Speed Limits on Road Safety in New Zealand: An Essay

This essay analyzes the critical issue of road safety in New Zealand, emphasizing the debate surrounding speed limits and their impact on accident rates and fatalities. The essay draws upon various news articles and research to highlight the alarming number of road deaths and the need for stricter speed limit regulations, particularly in rural areas. It explores the arguments for and against lower speed limits, discussing the importance of driver behavior, awareness campaigns, and stricter enforcement, including penalties for drunk driving. The author emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to road safety, including infrastructure improvements, public awareness, and tougher driving tests. The essay also references data on speed limits and accident rates to support the claims and advocates for government intervention and the implementation of specific measures such as separate lanes and improved road markings to enhance safety and reduce the risk of accidents. The essay concludes by highlighting the urgency of addressing road safety concerns for the betterment of society.

Editorial

“Lower speed limits should help reduce road deaths”
This is the alarming line for people residing in New Zealand. These days, there are many
deaths which are occurred because of accident in New Zealand, hence there is requirement to set
speed limit again. Due to accidents, not individual but whole family have to suffer directly or
indirectly. When someone see accident which is due to high speed, then this gives lesson to
people but still they do not keep it in their lives. When speed limit is reduced by traffic
controller, then it is easy to reduce accident rates.
There is difference in speed at rural roads and highways,. Hence as per article provides
by NHHerald, people must support to lower down the speed limit in rural areas. There are some
people who drives in same high speed. This may lead to increase in accident and death rate of
local people.
“Lower speed limit on rural roads has merit”
Apart from this there must be awareness among people that they must not walk in mid of
street. Crossing of road must be from pedestrian cross and driving test must be more tough so
people get license after passing these questions. In case there is constant speed limit, then it is
not easy to educate that speed limit at rural or residential area has to reduced. When there is
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reduction in speed limit, there is decrements in death rate. As per specialist of traffic and control
room, it is identified that speed limit has to be set according to road types and drivers skills.
Apart from speed, there are some habits of drivers which give arise in accidents. As per
article, it is essential to reduce speed limit by 10% which reduces in death rate. 78% of the death
is due to accident. This is huge figure as per population rate of New Zealand. There is “Drink
and Drive” habit among people, so due to unconscious mind, accident rate increases. In this case,
in order to deal with it, there must be high rate of penalty and punishment with the help of which
people think thrice before conducting this.
There was announcement by the police to reduce speed limit because they majority see
accident which is due to high speed limit. There were death of people in groups due to fast speed
and they are not able to handle vehicle in case of any mis- balance. So this is time time for
setting new sped limit by considering all the factors. For the betterment of society, it is easy to
set specified limit as per area which is more beneficial for people. There must be proper lanes for
vehicles, hence provision of penalty can be implemented.
With the help of speed limit boards, it is easy for people to understand that speed limit for
particular area is specified and in case of higher limit, their speed is detected in speed identifier.
This gives fear in mind of people that they are avoiding traffic rules and this might result in
caught by police and possibilities of legal case too.
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Time for a new speed limit?
Population of New Zealand is less and if there is maintained rate of accident, then this is
the matter of issue for society. So with panning for reducing speed limit, this is the one of the
best decision through which accident rates can be reduced. As per article provided by Stuff, it is
clear that there is reduction in speed limit which is beneficial for society.
“Speed limits too high on most roads: NZTA”
As per news provided in Otago Daily Times published in New Zealand, it is analyzed
that around 87% speed limits in New Zealand is high due to accident rate is also high. If speed
limit gets reduced and awareness among people increases regarding speed, then it is easy for
them to reduce possibilities of accidents.
With the interference of government, there must be some compulsory regulations which
results in getting better outcome. There must be separate lane for cyclist zone, pedestrian zone,
etc., road marks have to more specified and dark, so people can analyse their way to going. With
creating awareness among people regarding speed limit and driving habits, there will more
benefits to society. Driving schools and license authority have to work with understanding
changes in driving habits and communicate it to people thoroughly. By driving authority, driving
test must be complex, so it is important to accomplish also the requirements to get driving
license. This makes people to drive within specified limit and follow all the rules.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Ambros, J. and et. al., 2017. Improving the self-explaining performance of Czech national
roads. Transportation Research Record. 2635(1). pp.62-70.
Frith, W. and et. al., 2016. The safety impact of road lighting on roads with speed limits greater
than 70 km/h. Road & Transport Research: A Journal of Australian and New Zealand
Research and Practice. 25(1). p.62.
Lantieri, C. and et. al., 2015. Gateway design assessment in the transition from high to low speed
areas. Transportation research part F: traffic psychology and behaviour. 34. pp.41-53.
Lu, X. Y. and et. al., 2015. Novel algorithm for variable speed limits and advisories for a freeway
corridor with multiple bottlenecks. Transportation Research Record. 2489(1). pp.86-96.
Sze, N. N. and Song, Z., 2019. Factors contributing to injury severity in work zone related
crashes in New Zealand. International Journal of Sustainable Transportation. 13(2).
pp.148-154.
Online
Lower speed limits should help reduce road deaths. 2019. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12220408>.
Lower speed limit on rural roads has merit. 2019. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11447434>.
Time for a new speed limit? 2019. [Online]. Available through: <http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-
press/opinion/9450536/Editorial-Time-for-a-new-speed-limit>.
Speed limits too high on most roads: NZTA. 2019. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/speed-limits-too-high-most-roads-nzta>.
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