"There is too much of an obsession on speed," AA Otago district chairman Malcolm Budd said.
Speed was one factor contributing to the road toll, but others that influenced safety included driver education, whether people drove to the conditions, drink-driving and the adequacy of roads, he said.
Enforcement was also needed, both of speed limits and to ensure vehicles were registered and had warrants of fitness, he said.
Mr Budd’s comments came ahead of consultation closing on a round of proposed speed-limit changes in Otago and Southland, mainly near schools.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s public consultation about proposed changes to speed limits on state highways closes on Monday.
The Dunedin City Council’s consultation period about speed limits on local roads, also mostly proposed to change near schools, finished yesterday.
In many cases, it is proposed speed limits will be cut to 30kmh near schools during drop-off and pick-up times for children, but would otherwise be 50kmh.
Mr Budd said the AA was comfortable with such variable limits.
A 30kmh limit could apply to particular times outside Amana Christian School in Mosgiel in both Gordon Rd (State Highway 87) and King St.
School principal Roslyn King said Gordon Rd was very busy at peak times and she expected the lower limit would help to create a safer environment for children walking to school or being dropped off.
Waikouaiti School principal Mark Edwards said the board of trustees supported efforts to improve safety.
Several streets in Waikouaiti, as well as a section of SH1, could be part of a 30kmh zone that would apply at certain times on school days.
One proposed change not connected with schools is near Moeraki village in North Otago.
It is proposed a 60kmh variable limit should be brought in where SH1 intersects with Hillgrove-Moeraki Rd.
A 100kmh limit would remain when traffic was not approaching the highway from the side road.
Noah’s Boutique Accommodation Moeraki owner Leonie Petersen said the corner was dreadful and she believed the proposed change was warranted.
Moeraki Village Holiday Park owner Kristina Mitchell was less convinced adjusting the speed limit would make much difference and both women said visibility at the intersection was compromised by the positioning of a power pole.
A 70kmh variable limit was brought in at the nearby turnoff to the Moeraki Boulders in 2017 and Ms Petersen felt it had worked quite well.
The stretch of SH1 between Hampden and Palmerston has had about one fatality a year in the past decade and it is already the focus of a planned safety-improvements project.
Mr Budd said the case for change near Moeraki was clear.
"That is a treacherous piece of road," he said.
He was wary of an apparent agenda to lower speed limits on state highways more generally.
Mr Budd said changes to speed limits should be done on a case-by-case basis and when justified by evidence.
"We believe there has to be evidence the speed is contributing to serious injuries and deaths."
New Zealand’s provisional road toll in 2022 has exceeded 350 and could end up surpassing the 2018 tally of 378.
National MP Simeon Brown said last month the Government’s transport plan was to slow New Zealanders down, rather than invest in roads to make sure they were safe to drive on.
