School speed signs slammed as too hard to read - and even wrong

There are calls for new speed signs outside schools to be changed, with concerns some are over complicated and incorrect.

The signs are being rolled out as part of a wider suite of changes from the Government, reversing speed limit reductions that were introduced after 2019 on local streets, arterial roads and state highways.

The changes also affect roads outside schools where variable speed limits are being implemented, meaning lower speed limits during pick up and drop off times.

"Who knew that we were going to be having speed signs and eye tests combined into one?" said AA road safety spokesperson Dylan Thomsen.

He was referring to a sign outside Avondale College, which had six lines of text spelling out the rules.

He told 1News that was too much information and confusing for drivers.

Emma McInnes, a representative of the Save Our Safe Streets campaign, was also concerned.

"If you can't read it and you're driving, you might not see the kid in front of you that's crossing the road going to school."

It was not the only sign causing frustrations.

Shane Henderson, an Auckland Councillor for the Waitākere ward, said a sign recently put up outside Tirimoana School, advised drivers to slow down to an unspecified speed between 2:25 and 2:45pm, despite school finishing at 3pm.

"First and foremost, the sign's got the wrong number," he said. "It's not actually covering the times when kids are getting out from school."

In response to these concerns, Auckland Transport said in a statement that speed limits were being reversed on around 1400 streets.

"As part of these changes, Auckland Transport is required to introduce variable 30km/h speed limits outside the school gates of affected schools", an AT spokesperson said.

"We are aware of community concerns about some of the new variable speed limit signs and we are looking into options for how we can more clearly communicate these new speed limits."

McInnes said some councils have been fighting the proposed speed changes.

"Our council has plenty of time to do this in a considered way to get the information on the signs correct, but it's not doing that.

AA's Thomsen added: "The ideal solution for us is the electronic signage that actually only comes on with flashing lower speed limits at those times of the day."

In a statement, NZTA said: "Road controlling authorities (i.e. councils and Auckland Transport for local roads) can use either electronic variable school speed limit signs or static variable school speed signs."

In response to questions about the design of the signs, a spokesperson said: "NZTA provided [the Ministry of transport] with a number of sign options designed to achieve the requirement to display variable times for schools on a static speed sign.

"At the same time as the new speed limits rule was signed, amendments were made to the Traffic Control and Devices Rule to legally enable the new variable speed sign design."

Transport Minister Chris Bishop declined to comment as the issue was an operational matter.