Red light cameras go live in Auckland and Wellington

The new-generation cameras use radar technology to detect red light runners. It’s the first time the technology has been used in New Zealand. Assistant Commissioner Road Policing, Dave Cliff, says the cameras – two in Auckland and one in Wellington – will help to improve safety at the selected intersections, which have a history of red-light crashes. “Overseas, red-light cameras have been associated with significant reductions in injury crashes. Our goal is to achieve the same at these high-risk intersections, as it is for the road controlling authorities in Auckland and Wellington that have worked in partnership with us on this project.” The cameras have been installed at signalised intersections identified as high risk for red light crashes through robust NZ Transport Agency analysis. Police and the relevant road controlling authorities considered factors including the analysis, crash history and suitability of the intersection layout. The intersections are: Karo Drive and Victoria Street in Wellington; Te Irirangi and Tī Rakau drives in Botany; and the Lambie Drive Interchange (east-bound off-ramp), Manukau. The camera system uses radars to track and capture vehicles running the red light. The primary radar scans and tracks vehicles as they approach the intersection. If a vehicle crosses the stop line during a red-light phase, a camera photographs the rear of the vehicle. A second radar (known as the validation radar) ensures the photograph taken is of the breaching vehicle. The cameras are a joint project involving Police and three road controlling authorities: Auckland Transport, NZ Transport Agency (including the Auckland Motorway Alliance) and Wellington City Council. At this stage the roll-out is limited to the three cameras, with the funding, ownership and operation of any future red-light cameras yet to be determined. Ministry of Transport data shows there were 280 fatal and 2,965 serious injury crashes at intersections from 2009-2013. Of those, 12 fatal crashes and 149 serious injury crashes were caused by a driver running a red or an amber light. Drivers who enter any of the intersections on a red light will be sent an infringement notice with a fine of $150. Police retain none of the fines collected from the cameras, all of which goes to the Government.