A Proposal to cut open-road speed limits, flies in the face of overseas experience, ACT Transport Spokesman Penny Webster said today.

Reducing the speed limit is one of a number of proposals in a road safety plan unveiled by the National Road Safety Committee this week.

“Our speed limit is already one of the world’s lowest,” she said.

“The best information I have is that imposing unrealistic speed restriction could create more driver frustration and encourage risk-taking. The overwhelming majority of other countries have speed limits of 110 to 130 km/h,” Mrs Webster said.

She said the National Road Safety Committee plan side stepped the real issue.

“We need to improve the quality of New Zealand’s roads and examine driver behaviour.

“Road need, not speed, is the real issue here,” Mrs Webster said.

“Imposing a 90 km/h open road speed limit would simply strengthen public perception of a control-mentality Government dead set on imposing its own social agenda in all areas of the community,” Mrs Webster said.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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