Speed limits

Too much speed is one of the biggest killers on our roads. People die every year in Aotearoa in speed-related crashes.

Remember, the faster you go, the more likely you are to be killed or seriously injured if you crash.

Safe speed guidelines

You can ride at any speed under or equal to the limit, provided:

• your speed is safe for the traffic conditions – slow down if you're on a busy road, or if there are pedestrians or cyclists around
• your speed is safe for the road conditions – slow down if the road is winding, bumpy, narrow, wet or icy
• your speed is safe for the weather conditions – slow down if it's raining, windy or foggy
• you can stop suddenly behind a vehicle that you’re following – if a vehicle ahead of you stops suddenly and you run into the back of it, you'll be legally responsible
• you can stop in half the length of clear road you can see in front of you on a road with no centre line or lanes – a narrow country road where vehicles may meet head-on
• you can stop in the length of clear lane you can see in front of you on a road with a centre line or lanes.

Slow riders

If you're travelling slower than the speed limit and there are vehicles following you, you must:

• keep as close to the left side of the road as possible
• pull over as soon as it's safe to let following vehicles pass.

Don’t speed up on straight stretches of road to prevent following vehicles from passing you.

Compulsory speed signs

A speed limit is the maximum legal speed that you can travel on the road under good conditions. Signs showing the speed limit are displayed beside the road. These signs usually have a red border, which means that the sign is compulsory.

You may ride slower than the speed limit shown, but you must be considerate towards any vehicles behind you.

You must ride slower than the limit if conditions make the speed limit shown unsafe.

Some examples of speed signs are shown below.

The maximum speed you can travel is 50m/h

The maximum speed you can travel is 70km/h

A temporary speed limit of 30km/h applies. Temporary speed limit signs are usually put up when work is being done on or near the road

Open road speed limits

These signs mean that the maximum speed that you can travel at is 100km/h. When following other vehicles, remember that heavy vehicles and light vehicles towing trailers have lower speed limits and you may have to adjust your speed.

Maximum speed is 100km/h for light vehicles

Other signs that mean you must adjust your speed

Crash, fire or other emergency sign

The signs below mean that you're coming up to a crash, breakdown, fire or other emergency. Slow down and ride at 20km/h or less until you have passed the emergency site.

School bus signs

These signs are displayed on school buses. If a school bus has stopped, you must slow down and ride at 20km/h or less:

• if the lights are flashing on the school bus sign, or
• if the bus has stopped to pick up or drop off school children, even if the lights aren’t flashing.

No matter which way you’re coming from, you must ride at under 20km/h until you’re well past the bus.

School speed limits

Active school speed limit signs are turned on before and after school, and at other times there’s activity associated with the school.

The sign on the left indicates the start of the school speed limit. If either 30 or 40 km/h is visible the red ring will flash, indicating the maximum speed past the school until the school speed limit ends.

The sign on the right will be on the side road.

Curve warning signs

These signs warn you that you're coming up to a tight curve or bend in the road. The number recommends a safe and comfortable speed to ride at around the curve – in this example, the recommended speed is 35km/h. The arrows show which direction the curve goes.

Variable speed limit signs

Variable speed signs are used to manage traffic congestion and you need to adjust your speed to the speed shown.

Beach and river variable speed limit signs

These speed limit signs can be used at beaches or rivers. If pedestrians are present, the speed limit is 30km/h. If there are no pedestrians, the speed limit is 60km/h.