The aim to catch an extra 400,000 ‘speeding’ drivers this year will thrill Government accountants but do little to reduce carnage on our roads, said ACT Transport Spokesman Penny Webster.

“One can't help but be cynical at this feeble, politically correct Government move," said Mrs Webster.

“The bean counters must be thrilled by the thought of extra cash in the Consolidated Fund. That’s going to be one of the few achievements of lowering the threshold for speed cameras to only 10kph over the limit.

“It so easy to say that speed kills. It is much harder to face the fact that it is not speed, but poor roads and poor driver education that cause daily carnage.

“A well-trained driver can judge conditions and decide their speed accordingly.

“That is why countries like the United Kingdom have a much lower road toll per capita than New Zealand, while having a higher speed limit. They simply have a better driver education program.

“The Government would better serve New Zealand road users by improving our roads and driver education, than by decreasing the speed camera threshold.

“However, in this politically correct environment, it is far easier – and far more acceptable – to focus on the so-called evil that is the speeding driver,” said Mrs Webster.

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