Auckland Transport gets approval for 30km/h speed limits, but AA isn't happy

Auckland Transport is one step closer to installing lower speed limits on some roads around the city, after the board approved the draft plan.

The board signed off on the Draft Speed Limits Bylaw 2019 on Tuesday and public consultation is slated to take place early next year.

It would see roads like Queen St, Broadway in Newmarket and Tamaki Dr in Mission Bay dropped to 30km/h.

The new speed limits, which would apply to 10 percent of Auckland roads, could be in place by August 2019.

Auckland Transport chief executive Shane Ellison said in a statement lowering the limits would make the roads safer.

"Setting safe speeds is one of the quickest and most effective tools we have in reducing road trauma," he said.

"The public will now have their say on our safe speed proposals early next year, and for Auckland Transport to continue its work to make our streets safer for everyone."

But the AA isn't a fan of the proposed new speed limits and is asking for Auckland Transport to consider partially backing down on the proposal.

"The Transport Agency's tool for setting speed limits, the Speed Management Guide, recommends 40km/h as the safe and appropriate speed for the bulk of roads in the CBD, but AT is choosing to ignore it," said spokesperson Barney Irvine.

"We think an approach based on 40km/h would be a win for road safety and a win for public support."

Mr Irvine said a recent survey of AA members in Auckland found 62 percent of respondents oppose or strongly oppose the 30km/h speed limit.

Sixteen percent of respondents were in favour, while the rest were in two minds about the proposal.

Pedestrian advocacy organisation Living Streets Aotearoa threw its support behind the plan earlier in December.

It said in a statement if Auckland wants to be a world class city it needs to follow other cities and introduce measures to lower speeds.

"These sorts of measures have been or are being implemented in cities around the world," spokesperson Dr Chris Teo-Sherrell said.

"London is introducing [32km/h] speed limits. New York has already decreased speeds. Many European cities have had them for years, and it shows in their lower road crash statistics."

Newshub.