The 100 km/h speed limit between Blenheim and Nelson is set to be cut to a maximum of 80 km/h.
Speed limits between Blenheim and Nelson should be cut to 80km/h or less permanently say road safety bosses.
And traffic bosses are backing the switch, recommending that it gets the go ahead.
Earlier this year, New Zealand Road Transport Agency revealed plans to look at lowering speed restrictions to help prevent fatalities and injuries on the region’s roads.
New restrictions will see State Highway 6 restricted to 60km/h in some places.
NZ Transport Agency director regional relationships Jim Harland confirmed the recommendation to the Nelson Weekly.
“After carrying out a safety assessment we are proposing new speed limits along the route.”
The move follows several public events across the region to get public feedback.
Under recommended proposals, existing speeds would change just before the roundabout by Pak ‘n Save, dropping from 100 to 80 km/h for the majority of the 114km journey.
Communities are calling for the change, NZTA bosses say.
Between 2009 and 2018, 20 people died and 92 were seriously injured in crashes on State Highway 6 between Blenheim and Nelson.
Nineteen of these deaths were on 100km/h stretches of SH6 and 87 people were seriously injured were on the open road/ 100km/ hour sections of SH6.
The consultation period will be open for four weeks before a final decision is made.
Any changes to the speed limits could be in place by the end of the year, Jim says.
