Ben Strang
The government will not be signing off on a vast increase in the number of speed cameras, unless they’re well sign-posted.
RNZ revealed that the government has been advised to look into adopting the Swedish method of speed camera use, which would mean hundreds more cameras and much larger fines. Critics of the plan say it would be a revenue grab, but Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter said a perfect camera system wouldn’t generate a cent.
“We want any policy around speed limits and enforcement to back up that it’s about saving lives, it’s not about stinging motorists with fines for no reason,” she said.
The Swedish Model
The Speed Reference Group was one of five looking into different parts of the road safety debate. They said that the government should investigate using the Swedish model of speed cameras, when it replaces the current Safer Journeys Road Safety Strategy next year.
Sweden will soon have more than 3000 speed cameras on about 9000 kms of road.
Ms Genter said it would be crucial to warn motorists if more cameras were installed.
“Certainly, I would not consider it appropriate to massively increase the number of speed cameras, unless we were taking the approach of insuring they were very well sign-posted and only targeted to the most dangerous roads.”
Ms Genter said countries with clearly sign-posted speed cameras dish out fewer tickets, because people start driving at safer speeds.
She said that would be a model worth investigating.
National’s take
National Party Transport spokesperson Paul Goldsmith, said that he was open to more cameras but not to the extent of Sweden.
“They encourage people to slow down and keep to the speed limit. It is a good idea but I am not sure about thousands,” he said.
Mr Goldsmith said that he had not seen any evidence of the effectiveness of speed cameras, but he believed they did slow drivers down.
“I assume that an element of speed cameras does help change behaviour, particularly if they’re sign-posted. But you have to weigh that up in terms of expense, about other things that you could do such as enforcement around wearing seatbelts, and not drink driving and other important elements of the road safety message,” he said.
Mr Goldsmith said cameras should not be prioritised ahead of roading improvements, which he said was a key part of Sweden’s roading network.
He said Sweden has more than 8000 kms of motorways and expressways.
Sweden also runs its camera network through its version of the Transport Agency, a move that police are eager to see happen here.
NZTA Board ready
Sir Brian Roche, the new NZTA Chair, said that they would step up to the challenge if asked to take over the cameras.
A decision on the future home of the speed camera network is expected to be made in the coming months.
The government’s new Road Safety Strategy will be open for consultation later this year and will begin in 2020.
–Published under a Special Agreement with www.rnz.co.nz
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Photo :
The Swedish Method of Speed Camera use (RNZ Picture by Alexander Robertson)
