ROAD SPEED LIMITS AND PUBLIC HEALTH

The Nurses Society of New Zealand supports lower speed limits on roads. Our position is primarily based on public health, safety and economic grounds. There is a clear correlation between vehicle speed and the severity of injuries in road crashes.

Research and experience has consistently shown:

o   a positive, exponential relationship between speed limits and fatal crash rates

o   a clear relationship between vehicle speeds and both the severity of injuries and mortality rates

o   the effectiveness of lower speed limits in reducing the frequency and severity of collisions and resulting casualties.

The alleged convenience of shorter travel times should not be prioritised over public safety. Preserving life and avoiding the devastating human and economic costs of injuries and deaths from road crashes is more important that a few minutes of reduced travel time.

Health services are already under extreme workload and funding pressures without the additional unnecessary workload and costs that would arise from the proposed changes and the subsequent consequences.

Globally all developed countries are reducing speed limits. 

Selected references attesting the impact of speed limits