Speeding drivers beware – New Zealand’s first safety camera-equipped trailer started operating on the streets of Auckland on 17 Sept. marking the latest addition to country’s road safety network.
After the induction of the first mobile camera-equipped trailer in Auckland, nine more trailers are in the process of joining the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) fleet in coming months. These mobile camera units – trailers and SUVs, have no resemblance to the vans NZ Police used earlier.
NZTA’s mobile safety cameras – both on mobile trailers and SUVs, work like fixed speed cameras except they can be moved around.
The multiple safety cameras in these mobile trailers (and SUVs) use radar to measure the speed and identify the direction of a vehicle.
These trailers are equipped with multiple cameras that measure speed (both towards and away from the front and rear of the car or trailer) –in other words, both as you’re approaching the trailer and after you pass it.
When the radar detects speeding, safety cameras takes a picture. Together the radar and cameras can detect speeding vehicles in two directions and from either side of the road.
The trailers are all painted white and look like the one in the photo, and are not marked, or signposted. But they also aren’t hidden also, says NZTA as they’re visible to drivers.
“Our aim is to reduce the number of people travelling over the speed limit and lessen the likelihood of a serious or fatal crash.
“We’re sharing what the cameras look like, how they work, and how we’re using them so you know what to expect,” said NZTA in their social media post.
These mobile safety cameras operate 24/7 nationwide and would be deployed on an “anytime, anywhere” basis with locations based on factors like crash data and feedback from communities.
“We operate mobile trailers and SUVs anytime and anywhere, which means you’ll see them during the day and at night on any type of public road across the country,” according to NZTA .
As exceeding the speed limit is illegal, you’ll be fined if a safety camera captures you exceeding the speed limit.
The NZTA took over responsibility for the cameras at the start of July and since then, the agency has issued nearly 80,000 infringement notices in the first two months – between July 1 and August 31, of takeover. The total value of infringements of these two months was $4.78 million, with $1.7 million collected as of August 31.
The three regions with the most tickets were Auckland, with 19,631, Wellington 13,727, and Waikato 4601.
NZTA would not receive any funds from tickets, with revenue made from infringement fees going into the Government’s Consolidated Fund.
“Speeding drivers can cause serious and irreparable harm on the roads, including deaths and serious injuries.
“Evidence shows that we can reduce the chance of people being killed or seriously injured in crashes if drivers travel within speed limits, and that is why we have safety cameras.”
According to the Ministry of Transport, a total of 209 people have already lost their lives on New Zealand’s roads so far this year.
NZ Police no longer operate their mobile safety camera vans and responsibility to operate all safety cameras from SUVs and trailers has been shifted to NZTA. Police officers continue to issue notices for the offenses they detect.
