Technological journey against unsafe road speeds (slideshow)
Technological journey against unsafe road speeds (slideshow)
Slideshow captions:
1: In 1948, the DSIR-built radar unit had to be particularly wide to accommodate its two antennae.
2: A meter for reading speed, used in conjunction with Civil Aviation Authority-designed radars.
3: In the early 1950s a dashboard-mounted Polaroid camera was used to catch drivers overtaking dangerously.
4: Inspector Mark Stables with the new digital fixed speed camera installed in Ngauranga Gorge.
With a new speed camera going live at Wellington’s Ngauranga Gorge it’s a good time to look at how far the technology used to measure unsafe road speeds has come.
Police have traditionally used radar and meters to measure unsafe speeds.
One of the first radars was produced by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) in the late 1940s. Others, such as the MK4, were produced by the Civil Aviation Authority. Digitectors and airborne spotters were also used.
These examples may seem terribly unsophisticated compared to the new Ngauranga Gorge camera, that can detect vehicles travelling at unsafe speeds across multiple lanes, but it’s worth noting that previous technology has played an important enforcement role.
In the years from 1998, when the previous Ngauranga Gorge camera was first installed, to 2012, there were no fatalities or serious injuries out of 32 speed-related crashes - a marked improvement on the period from 1990-1997 which saw two fatalities and four serious injuries in 25 speed-related crashes.
While the previous camera was effective in bringing down speeds, Inspector Mark Stables, Police Manager Crash Investigation and Calibration Services, says at almost 20 years old it made sense to replace it.
"Among the new camera's features is a dual radar-based detection system that works more efficiently, as well as software that gives us the ability to remotely configure the camera and download its data, doing away with the need to physically visit the site, except for periodic maintenance.”
Another advancement, more efficient infrared flash technology, means the camera can operate equally well at night - but speeding drivers will not see a visible flash.
Other new cameras will be implemented at sites where speed-related crash risks and evaluation indicates that this is an effective solution.
"As with Ngauranga Gorge, there is strong evidence that both fixed and mobile speed cameras are effective tools in encouraging drivers to travel at safer speeds, and reduce road trauma," says Inspector Stables.