44 Bowen Street
Private Bag 6995
Wellington 6141
New Zealand
T 64 4 894 5400
F 64 4 894 6100
www.nzta.govt.nz
26 August 2024
Chris McCashin
[FYI request #27844 email]
REF: OIA-16009
Dear Chris
Request made under the Official Information Act 1982
Thank you for your email of 29 July 2024 requesting the information regarding the legality and
regulations surrounding speed bumps installed by local councils under the Official Information Act
1982 (the Act). My responses to each part of your request are provided below.
The current legal framework and regulations governing the instal ation of speed bumps on
different types of roads in New Zealand. I understand speed humps cannot be instal ed on
National Roads, Regional Roads, Arterial Roads and Primary Col ector Roads - how have
Wel ington City Council been able to instal large numbers of speed humps on roads that fit the
above criteria?
Section 7.9 of the Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices 2004 (the TCD Rule) allows Road
Control ing Authorities (RCAs) to install road humps, speed platforms and other structures to slow
speed and restrict through movements as they see fit. If they choose to use these devices, they must
be il uminated, or have either reflective delineators or reflective signs, installed so that the structure is
visible.
Any national guidelines or standards that local authorities must fol ow when instal ing speed
bumps, including specifications for design, placement, and signage.
Guidance for instal ing speed bumps (referred to as vertical deflection devices) is given to RCAs in the
Part 5 of the Traffic control devices manual (TCD manual). However, the particular type of device and
its location is left to RCA engineers to determine using their professional judgment.
The process for approving the instal ation of speed bumps, including which authorities are
responsible for granting permissions. Have NZTA al owed speed humps to be instal ed on the
types of roads above or have council granted themselves permission?
RCAs, such as Wel ington City Council are responsible for the installation and approval of traffic
calming devices on their own road network.
Any records or data on il egal or non-compliant speed bumps that have been identified or
reported in the past five years, including their locations and the nature of their non-
compliance. For example how many of the recent instal ations are likely to be non-compliant?
There are no records of illegal or non-compliant speed bumps. It is up to RCA engineers to install
speed bumps in accordance with the TCD Rule, which are then approved by elected Community
Boards and Councils.
This part of your request has therefore been refused under section 18(g) of the Act as the information
requested is not held by NZTA and there is no reason to believe it is either held by or is more closely
connected more closely with the functions of another department.
Information on any legal chal enges or disputes that have arisen regarding the instal ation or
presence of speed bumps in New Zealand in the past five years.
In its capacity as the RCA for state highways in New Zealand, NZTA has not been involved in any
legal challenges or disputes regarding the instal ation or presence of speed bumps on state highways,
in the past five years.
Information on any legal challenges or disputes regarding the instal ation or presence of speed bumps
on local roads wil be held by the respective RCA.
Any assessments or studies conducted by the NZTA or other government bodies on the
effectiveness and safety of speed bumps as traffic calming measures.
The fol owing documents fal within scope of this part of your request and are enclosed
1. Speed management in New Zealand What works and what does not work
2. Raised Safety Platform Evaluation - Gordonton and Thomas Road intersection
3. Extract from Road Safety Case Studies - What works.
Some personal information has also been withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the Act. This section
allows for the withholding of information in order to protect to privacy of natural persons. I do not
consider there are any other factors which would render it desirable, in the public interest, to make the
information available.
Information on the effectiveness of vertical deflection devices is available online at:
•
www.nzta.govt.nz/safety/partners/road-safety-resources/safe-system-solutions/
•
www.nzta.govt.nz/safety/partners/road-safety-resources/safe-system-case-studies/
•
https://austroads.com.au/publications/traffic-management/ap-r642-20.
Policies or guidelines on the removal of speed bumps that are found to be non-compliant or
il egal installed by councils.
NZTA does not have any policies or guidelines on the removal of speed bumps. Should an RCA wish
to remove a speed bump, it is up to its engineers to use their professional judgement to determine how
to do so.
This part of your request has therefore been refused under section 18(g) of the Act as the information
requested is not held by NZTA and there is no reason to believe it is either held by or is more closely
connected more closely with the functions of another department.
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Under section 28 of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review my decision to
withhold information and refuse parts of this request. The contact details for the Ombudsman can be
located at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz.
If you would like to discuss this reply with NZTA, please contact Ministerial Services by email to
[NZTA request email].
Yours sincerely
Chris Rodley
National Manager Regulatory System Design
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