Waka Kotahi has busted a myth about fake speed cameras set up around New Zealand.
It comes after Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency announced work will begin this month on the construction of six new generation speed cameras, which will be capable of calculating the average speed a vehicle travels across a length of road.
The cameras will be installed across Auckland in Warkworth, Dairy Flat, Redvale, Shamrock Park, Karaka and Glenbrook.
Research shows the cameras, which are commonly used internationally, are more effective than single-location cameras and can reduce the number of people killed or injured on roads by more than 50 percent, according to Waka Kotahi head of regulatory strategic programmes Tara Macmillian.
The current single-location cameras are still "incredibly effective", according to Macmillian, who said they reduce deaths and serious injuries by 15-20 percent for where the cameras are located.
She told AM on Wednesday, construction will be completed in December before a three-month trial period where Waka Kotahi will collect data.
It led AM newsreader Nicky Styris to ask if there are any fake speed cameras around the country or if that is just an urban fallacy.
"This is such a great opportunity to do some myth busting, so there are no fake cameras but what you will see out there as we start to roll out new cameras at new sites, is that we will run them in test mode. So those cameras will actually not be issuing infringements," she said.
Macmillian believes the confusion could've been caused by that three-month trial period.
"There'll be a period of around three months where we're collecting data and information off them but we're not issuing infringements and maybe that might be some of the myth out there that we've got fake cameras," she said.
"But no, we don't put fake cameras out there. We are really honest and open with the public where we have cameras operating because we want the actual public to travel at those safe speeds. I'm sorry to bust that myth there are no fake cameras."
She confirmed once the cameras are installed, they will be clearly signposted and work on what that signposting will look like is currently underway.
Macmillan said in addition to being more effective at lowering speeds and reducing crashes, the new cameras also allow drivers to adjust their travel speeds to avoid being fined.
She confirmed if the new cameras catch you speeding, you will only be issued one ticket for your average speed being above the limit.
"The average speed cameras will clock your speed when you pass that first camera, you'll travel down the road, your speed might vary and as you exit the second camera, it's basically taking distance over time and calculating your average speed and that's the speed that will be used to calculate whether you've gone over the posted speed limit for that area," she explained.
"So, you'll only ever get one fine if you've gone over and look, I think the other positive here is we're going to clearly signpost these cameras.
"So, say if you've come past that first camera, you've had a momentary lapse, you have the option to also correct your speed and bring your speed down so then you won't be issued with an infringement."
The locations of the six new generation cameras are:
- Matakana Road in Warkworth
- Kahikatea Flat Road in Dairy Flat
- East Coast Road in Redvale
- Whitford Road in Shamrock Park
- Glenbrook Road in Karaka
- Glenbrook Road in Glenbrook
