Unsealed rural roads are often narrow and winding with no road or edge markings, with visibility sometimes blocked by vegetation. Specific hazards may be identified with warning signs. There will be forestry and agricultural vehicles using these roads.

Improving these roads for safety would be very costly and is not considered a good use of resources. The recommended speed limit range for these roads, as set in the Speed Setting Rule, is 60-80km/h, which aligns with the general nature of these roads.

While the number of reported crashes on these roads is comparatively low, minor and non-injury crashes are considerably under reported. The low volumes of traffic on these roads, combined with the under reporting of crashes, mean that the number of crashes per km travelled is likely to be higher than the reported crash numbers suggest.

We have two speed related safety options for these unsealed roads that are narrow or winding:

1. Lower speed limits to 60km/h or
2. Use more advisory speeds on the roads.

There are pros and cons for each option:

Option one:	Option two
Speed limit reduction to 60km/h	Advisory Signs
Will cost more than just putting up cautionary signs (repeater signs required every 2km)	Cheaper option (repeater signs required every 8km) Affordable option where traffic volumes and average speeds are already low
Enforceable	Not enforceable
Can be effective in reducing crashes	Can be effective in reducing crashes
Some drivers may consider a reduced speed limit the safe speed for a particular section of road, possibly resulting in an increased operating speed.	Not always as effective as some drivers may ignore the advisory speeds
Matches the recommended speed limits in the Speed Limit Setting Rule	Does not match the recommended speeds in the Speed Setting Rule

Approximate cost of signage by Ward for unsealed Roads that are narrow or winding

Ward	Speed Reductions	Advisory Signs*
Golden Bay	$32,000	$13,000
Lakes Murchison	$22,000	$16,000
Moutere Waimea	$20,000	$11,000
Motueka	$7,000	$3,000
Richmond	$1,000	Less than $1,000
Noting that some roads which have known safety issues may require additional treatment

In 2020, Nelson Tasman Community Speed Limit Feedback, 91% of respondents thought that a speed limit of less than 100km/h is appropriate for our Unsealed Rural – Narrow, Winding Roads:

• 59% agreed with 60km/h limit (1051 responses),
• 32% agreed with 80km/h limit (572 responses),
• 9% agreed with 100km/h (154 responses)].

Examples of Tortuous unsealed roads: Images @Google Maps

Totaranui Road, Golden Bay

Aniseed Valley Road

These roads provide access to residential properties, but at a lower density than urban residential areas. They usually don’t have footpaths and people who are walking or cycling need to share the road with vehicles. The roads are generally mainly used by residents and these residents often use these roads for fitness and recreation. The number of these rural residential areas has grown in Tasman, and we have had many requests from local residents to reduce the speeds of these roads.

The current speed limits are between 80 to 100 km/h. Schedule 3 of the Speed Limit Setting Rule specifies the speed limit range for these roads as 50-80 km/h

In 2020, Nelson Tasman Community Speed Limit Feedback showed that 69% of respondents thought that a speed limit of less than 50km/h is appropriate for our Rural Residential Subdivision Roads

• 22% agreed with 40km/h limit (397 responses),
• 47% agreed with 50km/h limit (855 responses),
• 20% agreed with 60km/h (369 responses).

Examples of rural residential roads: Images @Google Maps

Bronte Road East

Dodson Road, Tākaka

Urban Roads without footpaths

Some urban residential streets lack footpaths which can make walking or cycling dangerous. The Speed Setting Rule states that the speed limit range for urban streets with no footpaths as 40 km/h.

We have two speed related safety options for these roads without footpaths:

1. Lower speed limits to 40km/h or
2. Use more advisory signs on the roads.

There are pros and cons for each option:

Option one:	Option two
Speed limit reductions to 40km/h	Advisory Signs
Will cost more than advisory signs	Costs less than speed signs
Useful for areas such as holiday spots with people walking/cycling and many drivers not familiar with the area (e.g. Parapara and Patons Rock)	Can work well where traffic volume is already low and/or street is short
Enforceable	Not enforceable
30% chance of death if a pedestrian is hit by a car travelling at 40km/h. Noting that on some roads, speeds are already low, so this might not make a difference	80% chance of death if a pedestrian is hit by a car travelling at 50km/h.
Matches the recommended speed limits in the Speed Limit Setting Rule	Does not match the recommended speeds in the Speed limit Setting Rule

Approximate cost of signage by Ward for urban roads with no footpaths

Ward	Speed Reductions	Advisory Signs*
Golden Bay	$24,000	$19,000
Lakes Murchison	$2,000	$1,000
Moutere Waimea	$8,000	$6,000
Motueka	$2,000	$1,000
Richmond	$5,000	$4,000
Noting that some roads which are known safety issues may require additional treatment

In 2020, Nelson Tasman Community Speed Limit Feedback, 86% of respondents thought that a speed limit of less than 50km/h is appropriate for our Residential Street, No Footpath:

• 40% agreed with 30km/h limit (726 responses),
• 43% agreed with 40km/h limit (785 responses),
• 17% agreed with 50km/h (318 responses).

Examples of urban roads with no footpaths: Images @Google Maps

Anarewa Crescent, Stephens Bay

Bishop Road, Parapara

There are several roads where we have community groups and residents advocating for lower speeds. These roads do not fit in any of the categories listed above. The new limits proposed for these roads meet the criteria of the Setting of the Speed Limits Rule. Many of these roads have a high number of recreational vehicles such as the Sandy-Bay Marahau Road, Aniseed Valley Road. Included in the specific road list are some on-road sections of the Great Taste Trail that are currently 100km/h.

Some of our narrow and winding unsealed roads have very short roads adjacent, in these instances it is proposed that these side roads are also reduced. For example, Newport Road which is adjacent to Tapawera Baton Road.