Road safety experts are calling for the Picton road speed limit to be lowered from 100 to 90 kph. If accepted, this will bring an arbitrary imposition into conflict with driver common sense.
We already have many arbitrary speed limits imposed on motorists - one of them is the 50 kph limit on all except arterial roads. It is probably the least obeyed law governing motoring behavior.
Apart from the percentage of idiots that speed nomatter what limit is imposed, the average driver forms his or her opinion of what is a safe speed - and drives to it. We see this daily in the traffic flow speed which varies above and below the posted speed, depending on the conditions on the day.
There is a suggestion that Picton road be fitted with speed cameras. Money has already been spent on installing five police correction bays. These will only catch drivers unfamiliar with the road. The regular drivers know where the " revenue raisers " are located - and drive accordingly until they are past the danger zones.
All lowering the speed limit will achieve will be a good excuse to avoid spending money to install jersey barriers - and other lower cost accident prevention barriers.
You can not make a bad road safe by diktat. The government created the problem by increasing road traffic using Picton road. It is up to that government to spend where necessary to solve the problem !
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