Find out about the speed rules in Lower Hutt.
Excessive speed is one of the biggest killers on our roads. On average, 130 people die every year in New Zealand in speed-related crashes.
Remember, the faster you go, the more likely you are to be killed or seriously injured if you crash.
Compulsory speed signs
A speed limit is the maximum legal speed that you can travel on the road under good conditions.
Signs showing the speed limit are displayed beside the road. These signs usually have a red border, which means that the sign is compulsory.
You may drive slower than the speed limit shown, but you must be considerate towards any vehicles behind you.
You must drive slower than the limit if:
- conditions make the speed limit shown unsafe, or
- you are driving a vehicle that requires you to drive at a lower speed, such as heavy vehicles, which have a lower speed limit than light vehicles.
 | 50 km/h speed sign | The maximum speed you can travel is 50km/h. |
 | 70km/h speed sign | The maximum speed you can travel is 70km/h. |
 | Temporary speed sign | A temporary speed limit of 30km/h applies. Temporary speed-limit signs are usually put up when there is work being done on or ear the road. |
 | 100 km/hr maximum speed sign | This sign means that the maximum speed that a light vehicle can travel at is 100km/h. However, the maximum speed heavy vehicles can travel at is 90km/h (except for school buses, which are limited to 80km/h). |
Some schools display signs that are turned on before and after school and other times such as lunch time. Examples are shown below.
 | School zone speed sign | This sign will be displayed at the start of the school zone. If the 40 is visible and the yellow lights are flashing, the maximum soeed is 40km/h until the zone ends. |
 | School zone speed sign | This sign will be on a side road. |
If a driver exceeds a permanent posted speed limit by more than 40km/h, there is an automatic 28-day licence suspension.
If a driver exceeds a temporary speed limit by more than 50km/h, there is an automatic 28-day licence suspension. These 28-day suspensions are in addition to any other penalties imposed, eg licence disqualification and paying a fine.