Police plays an important part in helping to make New Zealand roads safer through rigorous enforcement of the traffic laws including alcohol and speed regulations, promoting good driving practices, and road safety education.
We also work with other road safety partners through the Road to Zero (PDF 7.4MB) strategy, which has a target to reduce deaths and serious injuries by 2030 by 40 percent compared to 2018 levels.
Police’s Safe Roads Control Strategy (PDF 11MB) supports this work by ensuring our prevention and enforcement activity is based on what will have the most impact in reducing harm on the road.
A number of specialist groups work within this area, including:
National Road Policing Centre
Based in Police National Headquarters, this group provides liaison with other road safety organisations, support for district road policing, strategic advice and research, and oversight of Police’s contribution to road safety.
District Road Policing
All Police districts are staffed with a road policing manager and a number of specialist road policing groups including Strategic Traffic Units, Highway Patrol, Impairment Prevention Teams, and Serious Crash Units – which investigate every serious or fatal road crash thoroughly and impartially to ensure all causative factors are identified.
Commercial Vehicle Safety Team - CVST
This nationally managed team (formerly the Commercial Vehicle Investigation Unit) is responsible for monitoring all areas of the commercial vehicle industry, including trucks, buses, taxis, couriers, mobile cranes, and mobile homes. For more information, check out the Commercial Vehicle Safety Team - CVST web page.
Police Infringement Bureau
The Police Infringement Bureau processes infringement notices and provide an adjudication service. For ticket/infringement queries, contact the Police Infringement Bureau.
Police Calibration Services
Police Calibration Services (PCS) is a specialist group responsible for maintaining the calibration and certification of speed enforcement and weighing equipment used by Police.