Let’s slow down

The letter (Nov 30) from the parents of one of the nine people who died on SH75 over the past decade is a poignant reminder of the tragic impact on many lives that lies behind each ‘statistic’. The 739 crashes over this period also resulted in 72 serious injuries and enormous distress for both victims and loved ones.

The speed reductions proposed by NZTA will add just six minutes to the journey from Halswell to Akaroa. Surely, with minor tweaks, these are a nobrainer.

International experience demonstrates that our high road toll is not inevitable. In Norway, from 2008-2017, road deaths fell steadily, from 255 to 106. In New Zealand in 2018 it was 377. Given our similar population size, climate and topography

etc a direct comparison seems reasonable.

Norway’s lower fatality rates are in part due to their zero blood-alcohol driving limit, an open road speed limit of 80km/h, and a high investment in engineering safer roads.

John Gould, St Martins (abridged)