Poll-driven speed camera policy won't work, says NZ Police spokesman

Extracted from a press release by the New Zealand National Party from 3rd November 2003

Transport Minister Paul Swain is a ministerial puppet if he's going to rely on the Land Transport Safety Authority's latest poll results to justify his speed camera policy, says National's Police Spokesman Tony Ryall.

The LTSA is claiming widespread support for their hidden speed camera plans and cuts to the speed camera tolerance, from 10kms over the limit to only 5kms, as a result of a recent survey.

"Hidden speed cameras don't work. Ministers Gosche and Hawkins scrapped the Waikato-Bay of Plenty hidden speed camera trial in 2000 saying it didn't reduce speeds or save lives. The LTSA won't admit it, but at the same time hidden speed cameras were introduced, Waikato Police put a special road safety team on the road.

"And the LTSA knows this," says Mr Ryall.

"Reducing the tolerance on speeding from 10 to 5kms over the limit won't improve road safety either. The LTSA itself has advised a 10km tolerance on speedometres. This plan will only make more people criminals and colour their view of the police."

"Most accidents in New Zealand involve cars travelling under the speed limit. According to LTSA's own data only 16% of accidents involved a car travelling over the speed limit. The issue is excessive speed and inappropriate speed for the conditions and that's what should be targeted."