Safer speed limits will be implemented in February on part of State Highway 5 between Napier and Taupo

Safer speed limit set for SH5 from Rangitaiki to Esk Valley

A new safer speed limit for State Highway 5 (SH5), one of the highest risk roads in the Hawke’s Bay, will come into effect from 18 February 2022.

The speed limit on SH5 between Rangitaiki and Esk Valley, will be lowered permanently from 100km/h to 80km/h following technical assessments of the road and consultation with the public.

Safe speeds save lives. When speeds are safe for the road, simple mistakes are less likely to end in tragedy. That’s why we’re making the speed limit safer for everyone who uses this road.

The current speed limit is not safe, even for the best drivers. The road traverses a constrained and challenging environment and is hilly with sweeping bends and no physical separation of traffic travelling in opposite directions.

Speed limits need to reflect the type of road and the risks. It’s not safe or appropriate for this road to have the same speed limit as Auckland’s Southern Motorway or the Hawke’s Bay Expressway.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their thoughts with us. Your feedback provided valuable insight into how people use this road and considerations which needed to be taken into account.

New permanent speed limits will be implemented on 18 February 2022

No crash resulting in death or serious injury is acceptable, so it’s important we take every opportunity to address the risk.

Between 2010 and 2019, 16 people were killed and 75 were seriously injured in crashes on SH5 between Taupō and Napier. In total, crashes on this route have led to 250 injuries in this timeframe.

Since December 2019, nine further lives have been lost in six fatal crashes. All but one of these occurred between Rangitaiki and Esk Valley.

The increase in traffic and subsequent crashes, along with the winding nature of the road, means 80km/h is the safest and most appropriate speed for this stretch of road. This is in line with the speeds people currently travel along the road.

Consultation for the SH5 speed limit review was combined with the consultation of the State Highway 51 (SH51) speed review.

Around 2000 submissions were received from stakeholder organisations and the public relating to SH5 and nearly 200 pieces of feedback applied to both SH5 and SH51.

Waka Kotahi also sought public feedback on the existing speed limits on the other sections of SH5 – from Taupō to Rangitaiki and through Eskdale.

A review of the feedback received on these sections is underway and will determine whether Waka Kotahi progresses to consultation on new speed limits.

More information and FAQs on the permanent speed limits and our consultation summary, including the submissions can be found here.

What else is being done to improve SH5?

Along with reviewing speeds on SH5 and SH51, we are investing in improving this important route.

We are currently under way with installing side barriers, road markings, signs and rumble strips to further improve safety and expect to invest a further $14 million into maintenance and safety projects around the Hawke’s Bay region this financial year.

We’re also continuing our work with NZ Police, increasing the investment into road safety, and working alongside our local Road Safe Coordinators on the SH5 ‘Stay alive on 5’ roadside billboard campaign.

Earlier this year we resealed sections of SH5 and Titiokura Summit, improved safety at the Tarawera Café entrance and have spent $16 million on maintaining the state highway in the 20/21 financial year - an extra $4 million above previously budgeted.

Long-term planning is vital to SH5, as it’s Hawke’s Bay’s critical link north. We are also seeking funding for a Programme Business Case which will explore future options to address the safety, efficiency and resilience of the route. If approved and funded, we will look to deliver this work in stages between 2022 and 2027.

Road to Zero

Improving safety on New Zealand roads is a priority for Waka Kotahi. Road to Zero is New Zealand’s road safety strategy, which sets an ambitious target of reducing deaths and serious injuries by 40 per cent by 2030.

Road to Zero adopts Vision Zero, a vision for Aotearoa where no one is killed or seriously injured in road crashes. To achieve Vision Zero, we need to create a safe transport system which recognises that people make mistakes and is designed so that these mistakes do not need to cost lives. This requires a mix of solutions that combine to keep people safe, including setting safe speed limits, improving the safety of roads and roadsides, and encouraging people to buy the safest vehicles they can afford.

Check out our new video that highlights all the things that go into setting a speed limit.

There are several factors including the number of people and travel modes using the road, the function and features of the road and its surrounding environment.

All these things determine what a safe speed should be.

To find out more about what we are doing to keep you safe on your journey, read more about Road to Zero and our vision for Aotearoa where no one is killed or seriously injured on our roads on our website.

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