A digital fixed speed camera is due to go live tomorrow on Great North Road, Kelston, in the Waitemata Police District. It replaces an existing camera using older technology.
It’s part of a Police-led initiative to place next-generation fixed speed cameras across the country in sites assessed as having a high risk of speed-related crashes. The digital cameras are able to monitor up to six lanes of traffic flowing in both directions.
There have been 40 speed-related crashes in the vicinity of the Great North Road site in the last 10 years, including two where people lost their lives.
“The road is straight and wide, so it’s easy for drivers to allow their speed to creep up over the limit. The high volume of traffic adds to the crash risk,” says Senior Sergeant Grant Miller, Waitemata Road Policing Manager. “The speed camera encourages drivers to choose a safe speed below the limit. Then if they do have a crash, it’s more likely to be a minor one, because as we all know, the faster you go, the bigger the mess.”
He says the new technology is an important step in the efforts of Police and its road safety partners to reduce death and serious injuries on New Zealand roads. Driving too fast for the conditions contributes to around 30 percent of our fatal crashes and 20 percent of serious injury crashes.
More information: www.police.govt.nz/speed
Media contact: Ross Henderson, 021 192 2919