Auckland Transport slashes speeds across central business district

Auckland Transport (AT) has put the brake on motorists, slashing speed limits across the central business district.

Board members on Tuesday afternoon voted to implement a 30kmh speed limit for the entire city centre, apart from Hobson, Fanshawe and Nelson Sts, which will be 40kmh.

Changes are also on the way for 700 kilometres of rural roads which will have new speed limits.

The board decided to leave existing speed limits on 20 roads, mostly in rural areas in the south.

New speed limits will be introduced in phases, due to the scale of the project.

The move comes despite the majority of the thousands of submissions being against it.

National Leader Simon Bridges earlier said blanket speed reductions were "stupid".

"Aucklanders already know they are suffering from congestion and an inability to get around, whether that's dropping the kids at sports or school, or getting to work on time," he told Newshub.

AT said reducing speed limits would reduce the number of people injured or killed on Auckland roads.

Newshub.