4 Feb 2014

Lower speed limits in Wellington CBD

6:40 am on 4 February 2014

The speed limit for motorists in central Wellington could be reduced to 30km per hour by the end of the year.

The Golden Mile along Lambton Quay already has a 30km per hour speed limit, but Wellington City Council wants to extend it to most other streets in the central city as part of a strategy to improve pedestrian safety and make the capital more cycle-friendly.

The Cycle Aware Wellington group backs the policy.

However, Automobile Association council chairman, Michael Gross says more safety measures are needed, such as phasing traffic lights and introducing countdowns at pedestrian crossings.

The city council says similar speed limit reductions are also planned in Christchurch and Auckland.