Andrew Dickens: The new Minister of Transport has his head screwed on

I’d like to applaud the outbreak of common sense exhibited by the new Minister of Transport, Chris Bishop. He has decided to revisit some of the blanket speed limits imposed by central Government in the wake of concerns by locals. Let me first say it is the new Government that has imposed blanket speed limits not the last. This new Government has determined that all speed limits should be either 50, 100 or occasionally 11km per hour over all roads. No matter the condition of the roads, their usage or their ability to cope with the higher speeds. They used the phrase blanket speed limits which was a great vote catcher but had little to do with the situation on the ground. The old Government left most speed limits in the hands of local authorities who maintain and operate local roads.   Their roads, their rules. The Labour Government issued a schedule of over 300 sections of road on the state highway network which are the only roads they control. This schedule was put in place over dangerous roads, badly built roads but mostly they were around rural schools who were concerned at motorists screaming past at pick up time at 100 km. Now Chris Bishop has indicated that he will listen to local concerns. Which is a good thing. Because until you use a road you don’t know what an appropriate limit is.   And there’s no way a central Government locked in Wellington has any idea of the local reality. Meanwhile on behalf of all classic car owners who own the most serviced and beautiful cars on the road can I also praise Chris for his common sense one more time. The changes to the warrant of fitness system for cars over 40 years old is a no brainer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.