Auckland – city of sails – could soon turn into a red light district, thanks to NZ’s Transport Ministry
July 18, 2013
New Zealand’s largest city is set for a red light blitzkrieg as more red light cameras silently patrolling Auckland’s traffic intersections are installed.
A red light camera trial that ran in Auckland between 2008 and 2010 showed an average 43 percent reduction in red light running, and an average 69 percent decrease in crashes attributable to red light running, according NZ’s Transport Ministry.
The Ministry has released a position paper on red light cameras that paves the way for their use at intersections where an evidence-based benefit can be established.
Auckland Transport’s Road Safety Manager Karen Hay is pleased with the news saying the trial of red light cameras in Auckland has been successful and the decision to extend their use is welcome.
That trial was set-up by ARTA – now Auckland Transport – in association with NZTA, NZ Police, the Ministry of Transport and the Automobile Association.
Between 2008 and 2012, there were 11 fatalities, 169 serious injuries and 1466 minor injuries where the running of a red light was a contributing factor. The average annual social cost of these crashes is estimated at NZ$43 million.
“We are pleased we can now look at putting red light cameras at other intersections in Auckland,” Hay says.
The New Zealand government expects to see new generation red light cameras appearing at intersections from the end of next year.