But Aaron Keown says there is a difference between targeting speeding boy racers and putting in a blanket rule for all road users.
In 2008, Keown’s mother Laureen Reilly was killed instantly when she became the innocent victim of a spur-of-the-moment, 45-second street race between two strangers who reached speeds of up to 157km/h on Main North Rd near Chaineys before one overtook the other, ploughing into the car Reilly was a passenger in.
Keown said the plan to reduce speed limits would not have made a difference.
"Not at all, they were doing over double the speed limit at the time.
"The speed limit could have been 30km/h . . . any speed limit wasn’t going to stop them.”
City council transport operations manager Stephen Wright said evidence shows slower speeds save lives.
Keown agreed evidence shows being hit by a car at a slower speed increases the survival chances, but does not agree it will reduce the road toll.
“If I was going to get by car this afternoon with a padded suit on I’d pick 30km/h over 50km/h any day.
Keown said Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency’s Road to Zero campaign has not saved lives, despite the amount being spent on it.
He said the money spent on lowering speed limits should be used elsewhere like on road policing.
This week 18-year-old learner driver Adam Rapson appeared in the district court charged with dangerous driving causing death, among other charges, after a passenger in the car he was driving, Zara Mitchell, 18, died when it crashed in Rangiora.
Police had abandoned pursuing the vehicle.
Keown said people found guilty of this kind of behaviour should be jailed.
“As soon as we start doing that and start being really serious about it there will be a reduction in the road toll.
“There’s this whole vibe that you’ll notice throughout the country around councils and some government departments, which is very anti-cars. So they might call it pro-people but that’s code for ‘we hate cars’, I think that’s what you’ll find.”
Keown said lowering speed limits in the city centre is really an ideology to get people out of their cars.
“Their motive is 'we want you to get out of your car, we don’t believe in cars, we want you to use other modes of transport'.
“We will force you out of your cars by making driving frustrating,” he said.
But Wright said the plan sets “safe and appropriate speed limits” for all streets and roads in the district.
The proposed new speed limits have been guided by Waka Kotahi NZTA rules, which direct all councils to prepare a long-term speed management plan.
Over the duration of the city council’s 10-year plan, it is proposed urban streets will be 10km/h in shared spaces, 20km/h in settlements along the coastline such as Rāpaki and 30km/h along local residential streets, outside schools and marae. Busier main streets will become 40km/h and streets that connect people to key destinations like Memorial Ave, Aldwins Rd, Linwood Ave and Blenheim Rd will be 50km/h. Rural roads will be 60km/h and 80km/h.
“Improving safety on our roads is a key priority for the council, and the evidence shows safer speeds save lives,” Wright said.
“If a pedestrian is hit by a car travelling at 50km/h, there is only a 20 per cent chance they will survive. At 30km/h, the survival rate increases significantly to 90 per cent.”
- Feedback on the draft Safer Speed Plan can be made until Wednesday, October 25, at letstalk.ccc.govt.nz/saferspeedplan
