Party transport spokesman Simeon Brown said National — if given the chance by October’s general election result — would "stop Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions on state highways and local roads".
Variable speed limit reductions around schools during school pick-up and drop-off times would be retained, and this would ensure "safety and efficiency are well balanced on our roads", Mr Brown said.
"Kiwis are sick and tired of Labour’s focus on reducing speeds rather than fixing potholes and addressing the highest contributing factors to fatal road accidents, such as drugs and alcohol."
Mr Brown’s commentary came after the Otago Daily Times reported widespread reductions in speed limits could be coming to Dunedin and its rural surrounds.
It is proposed sizable parts of the city will be covered by 30kmh limits, a series of arterial routes could have 40kmh limits and rural roads will be subject to blanket traffic speed reductions.
All rural roads that are the responsibility of the Dunedin City Council and which have 100kmh limits could be reduced to 80kmh limits or, if they are unsealed, 60kmh.
Proposed changes were developed "in accordance with the guidance and recommendations" set out in Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s Road to Zero programme, a report for the council said.
Public consultation on the council’s draft speed management plan for 2024-27 is to be carried out next month and a public hearing is due to be held on October 19 and 20.
The general election is on October 14.
Hearing panel chairman Cr Jim O’Malley was unimpressed by Mr Brown’s comments.
"First, National needs to win the election," Cr O’Malley said.
"Second, what will they be reversing?"
Reduction of speed limits to 30kmh had already been rolled out in other towns, such as Wānaka, he said.
"The speed limits that get adopted by councils have gone through a public consultation process.
"Does the ‘protominister’ understand the law?"
Regarding rural roads, the council said in its plan draft it was taking a "whole-of-network approach to ensure there is no doubt over what the underlying speed limit is on non-urban roads".
It was working with neighbouring district councils to promote consistency and with the transport agency to "align new safer speed limits for local roads and highways".
Mr Brown observed the Dunedin City Council was "threatening to reduce speed limits to as low as 20kmh" in such places as Queens Dr through the Town Belt.
"Blanket speed limit reductions only increase journey times, reduce productivity, and make it harder to get around," he said.
"National will scrap Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions and will focus on improving road safety by addressing the highest contributing factors to fatal road accidents, by rolling out roadside drug-testing and increasing the number of alcohol-breath tests conducted on our roads."
