Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Local Govt | National News Video | Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Search

 

Six more red light safety cameras to save lives

Auckland Transport media release


6 August 2018


Six more red light cameras sites are being installed at high risk intersections in Auckland to reduce dangerous driving and help save lives.

The new camera sites, funded by the regional fuel tax, will be in operation by October 2018. This brings the total red light cameras operating in the region to 12.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says, “Red light running places lives in danger. Last year there were four fatalities and 19 serious injuries at intersections due to red light running.

“With a 75 per cent increase in deaths and serious injuries on roads in Auckland we need to do everything we can to reduce unnecessary injuries and deaths.

“The scale of red light running in Auckland is demonstrated by the new cameras installed in June catching 660 people running red lights in just three weeks.

“We are not interested in red light cameras as a revenue raising measure. We are publicising where the cameras will be to change behaviour and prevent people being hurt and killed, not to catch people out.

“Red light cameras are proven technology that reduces deaths and serious injury. A trial of red light cameras in Auckland between 2008 – 2010 produced a 43 per cent reduction in red light running and an average 69 per cent decrease in crashes attributable to red light running.

“Aucklanders have the right to feel safe when they have the right of way to drive or cross a road at a lighted intersection. Over the next ten years we will bring the total number of red light cameras in Auckland to 42. They will be placed around our city to improve safety at intersections across our region,” says Phil Goff.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

The new camera sites will add to the six existing camera sites that began enforcing in June. Police’s enforcement of six Auckland Transport cameras will continue. When the new cameras are ready to go live, Auckland Transport will choose which six sites will be enforced, with enforcement rotating between the 12 sites. This means cameras could be active at any site at any time.

The six new site locations were chosen based on safety risk. They will be at:

· Great South Road and Cavendish Drive – two sites

· Te Irirangi Drive and Accent Drive – two sites

· Great North Road and Rata Street

· Great South Road and Reagan Road

Following physical installation, the cameras will be calibrated and tested before enforcement begins.

Enforcement is undertaken by NZ Police and money from infringements goes to the Crown’s National Consolidated Fund.

AT Chief Executive Shane Ellison says road safety is the organisation’s top priority.

“We are investing a significant amount to make our roads safer for people driving, walking and riding bikes.

“Installing red light safety cameras is just one tool that we are implementing to make intersections safer, and we have an ongoing programme to install even more in the next 10 years.

“Auckland Council and Government are prioritising road safety initiatives as part of the $28 billion investment in Auckland’s transport network over the next ten years,” says Shane Ellison.

Inspector Peter McKennie, Manager: Operations, Road Policing says people running red lights is just not worth it.

“You’ve got to ask yourself; is it worth crashing and risking injury – or worse – killing yourself or someone else?”

As well as the installation of the new cameras, AT is removing old camera housing from a number of sites around the city centre. These sites operated on old technology that can no longer be used for enforcement, and the red light running risk at these locations has reduced.

Ends

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.