Monday, January 28, 2008

 

Traffic signs

Yeah, I know - another long break!

So, has anyone else noticed the new speed signs by the roundabout at the Mill Rd/Parkhurst Rd/SH16 roundabout. Whose clever idea were they?

Driving from Helensville to Parakai you are in a 70km/h zone on Mill Rd. Right before the roundabout, that changes to 100km/h - great place to speed up, right? But then, the minute you get through the roundabout, it's now an 80km/h zone on Parkhurst. So, 70km/h along the straight, 100 round the roundabout, then 80 along the next straight!

Going from Parakai to Helensville is the opposite - 80km/h along Parkhurst, with a 100km sign right on the roundabout, then drop back to 70km/h entering Mill Rd.

The situation was of course different until very recently - Parkhurst Rd used to be a 100km/h zone, so the signage made sense. But with the drop to 80km/h, it seems no-one thought to rethink the signage.

Now, I'm not a complete idiot (I hope) - I realise that the 100km/h applies to SH16. So why not put the 100km/h sign at the start of SH16 instead of before the roundabout on either side? Obviously, no-one's going to go through the roundabout at 100 (I've tried: it doesn't work - just kidding) - but it seems unneccessarily confusing signage.

I guess the reason is probably some silly jurisdiction thing - the roundabout is probably the responsibility of Transit NZ (ie considered part of SH16) whereas Mill & Parkhurst Roads are probably looked after by the Council. I'm just guessing here, but that seems to be par for the course in matters like these.

Maybe a little common sense in future?

Comments:
yes the signs were and still are silly.100 km just before a rondabout?..i thought the 80 km limit from roundabout to parakai was brought because of the cows crossing,the footpath running alongside,the fact the road drops off quite steeply,(not good when doing 100kms) and the people doing over 100kms to pass other cars along that stretch of road either before they reached the corner by parakai or they reached the roundabout.did you notice someone had run into the barriers last weekend by the bridge just before parakai housing starts?..police need to start ticketing dangerous drivers along that stretch of road,no matter what the speed limit.and lets not get started about the idiot drivers tearing around parakai that the police are too busy to sort out.busy doing what? sorting out the taggers?.
 
Hi Dave
Heres a few ideas that people can think about. Let me know what you think? I think Helensville has the potential for many things. probably more than people realise! regards crowbarred/westy ~ http://www.need4speed.co.nz/n4s_blogjune08.htm
 
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