The Dunedin City Council has standardised variable speed limit times around schools, in time for the start of the new school year.

Just 25 Dunedin schools sit within permanent 30km/h speed limit zones, while 46 schools are in variable speed limit zones where a reduced 30km/h limit applies for a set time before and after school.

From this year, the variable speed limit of 30km/h will apply from 8am to 9.15am and 2.45pm to 3.45pm on school days. Before now, the reduced speed limits applied at different times around the city, because Dunedin school start and finish times vary.

"It was potentially confusing for motorists to have different variable speed limits for different schools," says Jeanine Benson, DCC Group Manager Transport.

"Variable school speed limits now apply at consistent times so motorists have one rule to follow across Dunedin. This standardised approach will help make school drop-off and pick-up times clearer and safer for everyone - especially for children and whanau who are crossing roads on the way to and from school."

The digital and static speed limit signs around schools are being updated to reflect the change. The static signs will be updated with stickers as a more cost-effective and sustainable alternative to replacing them.

You can see which speed limits apply to which schools on our website at www.dunedin.govt.nz/schoolsafety

Dunedin's new variable school speed limit times have been made in line with the Government's Setting of Speed Limits 2024 rule.

To see where speed limit zones apply around schools, you can search the National Speed Limit Register map at speedlimits.nzta.govt.nz