New speed limit proposal for dangerous Canterbury highway

The speed limit for one of New Zealander’s “high risk” State Highways is under review.

NZTA is asking the public to have their say on current speed limits on the Christchurch-Akaroa Road State Highway 75 which starts on Halswell Road, but includes a small part of SH73 where Curletts Road meets Halswell Road.

People can provide input on any part of the route and where they think speeds are not the right fit.

Between 2011 and 2020, 75 people were killed or suffered serious injuries in crashes on this road to Akaroa.

NZTA System Manager Pete Connors said Canterbury ranks second in New Zealand next to Waikato for the highest fatality rate from car crashes over the past ten years.

“Given the relatively small traffic volumes on the Akaroa highway – averaging 1,500 to 5,000 vehicles per day from Tai Tapu to Akaroa – the number of serious and fatality crashes is very high. Christchurch to Akaroa is our highest-risk route in terms of personal safety in Canterbury.”

“Making changes to the speed is the simplest thing we can do to increase people’s chances of walking away from a car crash or not sustaining serious injuries or dying.”

He said locals are already calling for speeds to be lowered in some places on the road.

“Anyone who’s made the trip knows that it requires care, concentration and safe speeds as the road varies from long flat areas to winding hills over Hilltop and around Akaroa harbour. The scenic winding sections have steep drop-offs and reduced visibility, and this is where motorcyclists are being killed and injured.”

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