MEDIA RELEASE

21 February 2014

Speed changes planned for Hemo Road and Old Taupo Road intersection

The speed limit at the intersection of Hemo Road (State Highway 30) and Old Taupo Road (State Highway 5) south of Rotorua will be reduced from 80 km/h to 70 km/h from next week.

The move was prompted by the NZ Transport Agency and the Rotorua District Council who have been working with Rotorua Police since December to lower the speed limit at this intersection, located south of the city.

From next week, the enforceable speed limit will be 70 km/h. This move will help to address safety concerns at this location which has a poor crash history, with 31 crashes reported at the intersection in the past five years.

The intersection is ranked fourth on the Transport Agency’s 2013 ‘National High Risk Intersections’ list. Around 15,000 vehicles travel through this intersection every day, 10% of which are heavy vehicles.

The Transport Agency Highways Manager, Brett Gliddon says lowering the speed limit will help to reduce the severity of crashes before a more permanent safety solution can be implemented.

“The most common cause of crashes at this intersection is poor observation or misjudgement of the speed of an approaching vehicle. We are looking at a more permanent solution and a roundabout is one option that has been proposed.”

“Crashes are preventable and part of our Safer Journeys focus is around implementing safer speeds on our state highways as a way to reduce death and serious harm on our roads,” says Mr Gliddon.

Acting Inspector, Brendon Keenan of Rotorua Police, says it’s good to see that speed is a top of the priority for the local council and the Transport Agency, “It’s about keeping our community and our drivers safe.”

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