The New Zealand Transport Agency issued nearly 80,000 infringement notices in the first two months following its takeover of speed cameras from the police.
The NZTA took over responsibility for the cameras at the start of july, becoming the sole operator of the equipment, while police continue to issue notices for any road offences they detect.
Since then, the agency has rolled out several new tools, including camera-equipped SUVs and trailers, as well as new average speed cameras.
As of September 19, the NZTA was operating 64 fixed speed cameras, one red light camera, and 35 mobile speed cameras.
According to numbers released by the Minister of Transport’s office,following a written Parliamentary question by Labor’s Tangi Utikere,the agency issued a total of 79,364 infringement notices between July 1 and August 31.That number was comprised of 37,821 in July and 41,525 in August.
In July and august 2024, police issued 36,317 and 44,275 infringements from static speed cameras, respectively.
The total dollar value of all infringements from NZTA’s first two months was $4.78 million, with $1.7 million collected as of August 31.
All payments from speed camera tickets where transferred from NZTA to the Crown Consolidated Fund.
The three regions with the most tickets were Auckland, with 19,631, Wellington, which had 13,727, and Waikato, with 4601.
The five fastest speeds recorded over the two months were 204km/h, 193km/h, 175km/h, 171km/h, and 167km/h – all of which NZTA has elected to take action on under the Criminal Procedure Act.
NZTA head of regulatory strategic programmes Tara macmillan told 1News that operating the cameras allowed the agency to “use them where and when they will be most effective in reducing crashes, preventing serious injuries and saving lives”.
Macmillan said the purpose of speed cameras was to reduce harm on the roads and not generate revenue.
“The evidence clearly shows that where safety cameras have been used in New Zealand and overseas, they reduce speeds and reduce the harm caused by crashes. As of this, they’re proven to substantially reduce deaths and serious injuries.”
“Speed can be the difference between death, a life-changing injury and walking away from a crash unharmed. Alongside other improvements, safety cameras will contribute to a transport system that protects us all.”
New Zealand Police Deploy Disguised SUVs to Catch Speeding Drivers
new Zealand police are utilizing new, less conspicuous SUVs equipped with cameras to deter speeding and improve road safety, according to a recent report. These vehicles are designed to blend in with regular traffic, making them harder for drivers to spot.
Traditionally,police used vans for speed enforcement,which were easily identifiable from a distance. However, the new SUVs are described as “nondescript” and could easily be mistaken for a parked or broken-down vehicle, even on highways. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2024/03/nzta-rolls-out-disguised-speed-camera-cars-to-catch-out-speeding-motorists.html
Authorities believe the increased difficulty in identifying enforcement vehicles will encourage drivers to maintain legal speeds more consistently.The strategy aims to target drivers who typically slow down only when they see a traditional police van.
“if you’re a driver that likes to travel around/ above the speed limit… and then slow down when you’ve spotted one of those vans up ahead, you are going to be more likely to be caught in the future or now, because it is a lot harder to see one of those parked SUVs,” a representative stated in the Newshub report.
The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) introduced these camera-equipped SUVs as part of broader efforts to reduce road fatalities and serious injuries. https://www.nzta.govt.nz/safety/safety-cameras/ The agency continues to emphasize the importance of safe driving practices and adherence to speed limits.