Notice Type
Authorities/Other Agencies of State
Notice Title

Variable Speed Limit in School Zones

Pursuant to clause 6.1 of Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2003 and a delegation from the Director
of Land Transport, I, Peter Graeme Croft, Manager Safer Roads, approve variable speed limits in school zones in accordance with the conditions set out in this notice.
Conditions
1. Variable Speed Limit
A road controlling authority may set a speed limit of 40 km/h that operates in a school zone during the periods specified in condition 2 of this notice. At all other times, the speed limit is the permanent speed limit for the road.
2. Periods of Operation
The 40 km/h speed limit may operate on school days for
a maximum period of:
(a) 35 minutes before the start of school until the start of school;
(b) 20 minutes at the end of school, beginning no earlier than 5 minutes before the end of school;
(c) 10 minutes at any other time when at least 50 children cross the road or enter or leave vehicles at the roadside.
3. Signs
Signs that comply with Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices 2004 must be installed to mark the beginning and end of the variable speed limit in the school zone as follows:
(a) At least one R1-6 “School zone variable” sign at each end of the variable speed limit on the main road outside the school, facing road users travelling towards the variable speed limit; and
(b) at least one Rl-6 “School zone variable” sign or
R1-6.1 “School zone fixed” sign facing road users travelling towards the variable speed limit on each side road that intersects with the school zone, where that side road is a no exit road or is controlled by Give-way or Stop signs at the intersection with the school zone; and
(c) at least one R1-7 “School zone ends” sign at each end of the variable speed limit on every road, facing road users leaving the variable speed limit.
4. Length of Variable Speed Limit
A variable speed limit in a school zone must be a minimum length of 300 metres but should not be longer than
500 metres. The length of variable speed limit on side
roads that intersect with the school zone may be shorter
than 300 metres.
5. Warrant
A road controlling authority may only set a variable speed limit in a school zone under the following conditions:
(a) There is a high level of school-related activity on
the road outside the school, with at least 50 children crossing the road or entering or leaving vehicles at the roadside; and
(b) the traffic on the road outside the school meets
at least one of the following conditions:
(i) The mean speed of free-running vehicles is greater than 45 km/h; or
(ii) the 85th percentile speed of free-running vehicles is greater than 50 km/h; or
(iii) there have been speed related crashes in the previous five years; or
(iv) the school-related activity in condition 5 (a) occurs on a main traffic route.
6. Bylaw
A road controlling authority must set a variable speed limit in a school zone by making a bylaw in accordance with Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2003.
Revocation
The notice dated the 26th day of June 2002, published in
the New Zealand Gazette, 4 July 2002, No. 76, page 2029, relating to school zone signs is hereby revoked.
Definition
School zone means a length of road outside a pre-school, primary school, intermediate school or secondary school.
Dated at Wellington this 31st day of May 2005.
PETER GRAEME CROFT, Manager Safer Roads.