7. NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) Link to this
to the Minister of Transport
What reports has he received on the safety ratings of New Zealand’s State highways?
Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Transport) Link to this
I am pleased that this morning I had the opportunity to release, in conjunction with the Automobile Association, the KiwiRAP star rating report. For the first time New Zealanders have access to a comprehensive star-based rating system that shows the relative levels of safety built into our State highways. The report provides a regional breakdown of the prevalence of key safety features found on our State highways, and shows that roughly 68 percent of vehicle kilometres travelled are on 3 or 4-star roads, with about 33 percent on 2-star highways.
The Government is taking a number of steps to improve the safety of State highways, including the major step of progressing the work on the roads of national significance. Upgrading this roading infrastructure will include retrofitting safety improvements and installing separate carriageways through our busiest high-volume rural highways. These seven roads carry high levels of traffic, including freight, and it is important that they are safe to use. Upgrading them will not only raise their star rating but help save lives and reduce injuries.
Improving the safety of New Zealand’s roads and encouraging safer driving are key parts of the Government’s Safer Journeys strategy. Drivers should use the ratings to educate themselves about the relative safety of the roads they drive on, and adjust their driving behaviour accordingly. We all need to take responsibility by being aware of conditions and adjusting our driving and our speeds. KiwiRAP can help drivers make the right choices to stay safe on our roads.