Bringing Down the Road Toll: The Speed Camera Programme

Foreword

Every year, hundreds of people are killed and thousands are seriously injured on New Zealand’s roads. Motor accidents cause immense pain and suffering for victims and their families and friends, and the medical and rehabilitation costs are high.

Speeding contributes to road accidents and fatalities, and successive Governments have been committed to bringing down the road toll. The Police and other agencies involved in road safety spend considerable time, and a lot of resources, controlling vehicle speeds on our roads. Speed cameras are a key tool in the Government’s road safety strategy.

Our examination considered whether speed cameras are being used effectively and efficiently, generating the maximum road safety benefits in contributing to bringing the road toll down.

As with our earlier examination The Police: Dealing with Dwelling Burglary, we have been impressed by the professionalism and helpfulness of the Police. I would like to thank the Police – in particular Superintendent Steve Fitzgerald and Inspector Matt Fitzsimons – for their willing co-operation. My staff have also been greatly assisted by Tony Bliss and his team from the Land Transport Safety Authority.

As part of our examination, we were keen to find out how speed camera programmes are operated in jurisdictions similar to New Zealand. My staff met with the Victorian and Queensland Police and I would like to thank them for their assistance. I am also grateful to the management and staff of Lockheed Martin Tennix, Australia, for the information they provided.

I hope that Parliament will find this report of interest, and that the Police and other road safety agencies will use it to improve the speed camera programme.

D J D Macdonald

24 April 2002