It dropped from 55 mph to 50mph (80kph) in the 70's as a result of the fuel crisis of the time. Once the fuel crisis was over, it was raised to 100kph
skin1235,
Apr 2, 4:13pm
the 50 mph was introduced during the 70's fuel 'crisis' as a means of fuel savings, just prior to converting to km/hr it was 60mph, 100km/hr is actually 62mph there is no logic, its an arbitrary number that changes for political reason at their whim
socram,
Apr 2, 4:50pm
Not sure about here, but certainly in the UK when they imposed lower limits during the fuel crisis, the accident rate increased.
lookoutas,
Apr 2, 4:58pm
Someone in a Model T can drive at 100 kph, and safely not get a ticket.
tintop,
Apr 2, 5:13pm
The speed limit was 50 mph, ( going back to at least the early 50's) raised to 55, dropped back to 50 at the time of the fuel 'crisis' :) I am not sure what the open road limit was prior to the 50 mph one in the 50's
skin1235,
Apr 2, 5:26pm
yet somewhere in the back of one of the sheds there is a 60mph sign, I know which post it came off - at one time the limit was 60 mph
and back then it was a16 pound fine for doing 100mph, about 2 weeks wages at the time, not an uncommon speed though, just bad luck if you got a ticket
tintop,
Apr 2, 5:40pm
The open road speed limit was set by the Minister of Transport on the advice of the Ministry of transport after the consideration of overseas experience, the state of the roading network, the state of the vehicle fleet. The increase in transport efficiency and the possible effects on the vehicle crash rate are also considered.
Although there is some science involved, an increase in speed limit is usually the result of an assessment rather than an exact science.
tintop,
Apr 2, 5:46pm
Yep, the open road limit was 60 mph immediately prior to metricaton of the limits.
I successfully defended a speeding ticket where a limt was changed at the same time as the metricaton - a 40 mph sign was replaced by a 50 kmph one. The magistrate agreed it was confusing.
skin1235,
Apr 2, 5:55pm
"In 1960, 374 New Zealanders lost their lives in road accidents. By 1969 the number had increased by almost 200. New Zealanders were driving more powerful cars prompting calls for increased speed limits. These occurred in 1962 when the open road speed limit increased from 50mph (80km/h) to 55mph (88km/h) and again in 1969 to 60mph (96km/h). While speed was identified as one of the factors contributing to our ever-increasing road toll, so too was drink driving. In 1969 blood alcohol and breath testing procedures were introduced to tackle this problem. A limit of 100mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood was set. The breathalyser was adopted as a screening device to help test for drivers over this limit."
stevo2,
Apr 2, 5:59pm
Even when the speed limit was 55mph. there were certain roads that had a 60mph limit. I remember only one of them - somewhere down Waverly way (south taranaki)
newtec1,
Apr 2, 6:37pm
Idiots will be Idiots regardless of the speed. They can be idiots at 80kph,and some drivers can be exceptional at 130kph ,so just who is the clown.
tintop,
Apr 2, 6:42pm
seem to remember the same thing. - the Takapu Plains in Hawkes Bay.
And as my dad used to tell me, was the first fully designed transition highway curve in NZ at the Norsewood end. At that time it was normal practise to marry a central circular arc with arcs of a greater diameter circle at each end.
skin1235,
Apr 2, 6:43pm
lol, and himitangi straights, later the whole country went to 60mph
stevo2,
Apr 2, 6:57pm
Yeah, remember those straights as well.
skin1235,
Apr 2, 7:05pm
the Waverley one had a dip in it that you soon learned not to hit at 80mph plus, the himitangi heading south, the trains coming up were on your left side, any roads or driveways had to pull out into the road just to clear the railway lines, you could stand on the asphalt and spit to the other side rail, it was that close to the road
socram,
Apr 3, 11:46am
No one has suggested anyone wants to drive at 130kph everywhere.
Auckland doesn't have any motorways, regardless of what they like to call them.
True motorways have long on and off ramps; are barred to learner drivers; have a considerable distance between junctions; do not have traffic lights; do not have 80kph speed restrictions; have all corners/bends able to be taken well above the speed limit because they are banked; and are a means of getting from A - B quickly, by-passing towns and cities. In other words, they are not for Wallies wandering around from lane to lane at 70kph, admiring the scenery and not for local commuter traffic.
Just about every car sold today is capable of 160kph+ whereas a few years back, you could only manage that in a sports car or an expensive GT.
Stopping distances today make a mockery of the figures I studied and learned off by heart, in the (UK) Highway Code in 1963/64. There is hardly a newish car on the road today that doesn't have disc brakes at the front and many have them on all 4 wheels, with radial tyres that perform so much better than old, tall crossplies.
What has changed is that drivers in modern cars, particularly automatics, are more concerned with hiding cell phone use and various other distractions, than actually driving. It is not an Auckland thing munch, it is a nationwide thing. Study the road fatality figures by location - if you can be bothered.
It isn't the reaction time that is the problem, it is the lack of anticipation, concentration and overall competence.
butterfly05,
Apr 3, 4:20pm
Winston is looking more and more appealing with every day that passes in this PC nonsense country!
What other party makes this much sense on these issues?
Anybody that thinks they can justify ticketing somebody for 1km/h over the limit without extaroadinary circumstances is just a moron.
socram,
Apr 3, 4:38pm
From the above NZ First link:
"Clarify rules around passing lanes, overtaking, and speed while overtaking. Exceeding the speed limit for the purposes of executing an overtaking manoeuvre as quickly and safely as possible will be permitted as a defence in the contesting of speeding infringement notices, particularly with regards to passing lanes. We will ensure the active enforcement of the speed limit for the left-hand lane of a set of passing lanes, and the enforcement of the requirement to use the left-hand lane when not passing unless there are no other vehicles using the passing lanes or attempting to pass."
stevep29,
Apr 3, 4:43pm
Enforcing the speed limit so rigouriously is actuslly killing law abiding people. Its not about saving lives its sole purpose is about revenue. People are dying enmass for the sake of making a dollar. Read the stats. Proof is in the pudding.
lookoutas,
Apr 3, 5:46pm
My comment in #30 didn't seem so funny today. Was following a 20's version of something, shod with skinny's (hopefully radials) coz it was cruising at 100 plus (the allowable bit) and handling the corners without dropping too much in speed. Was still a bloody nuisance tho - and the bike that was sitting behind it, and the one in front. It must have had a decent grunter under the hood, as it's pick-up was pretty good.
tintop,
Mar 30, 9:55pm
Yep - its the only place you will find any 'proof'
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