Nice little earner, says Peter Dunne

[FJRider]

Personally I think speed limit compliance would be improved if they still had the speed camera signs up so that a) you knew they might be there and b) that you probably should knock it back a bit due to the history of crashes in the area, you know, self enforcing. Unfortunately if everyone complied with the speed limits there would be a massive drop in Government income and they wouldn't want that. What would they hypothecate with?

There are big "Black spot Slow Down" signs everywhere.

People still crash there.

Go figure ...

[Berries]

I know the ones at Roaring Meg and the Crown Range but as they don't know what speed I am doing the message is meaningless. Do I slow to 50? To 40? Is 90km/h ok? Shit signs because they have run out of ideas, no wonder people still crash there. And, the big one, they have nothing to do with enforcement. If everyone complied with the speed limits from tomorrow the revenue would go right down but the road toll won't. There is a massive difference between traveling at a speed in excess of the posted speed limit and travelling at a speed too fast for the conditions. The problem is that the first one is easy to enforce but it is the second one that leads to crashes.

Of course, those signs can also have the opposite message. Whenever I get to that part of the Gorge and see those signs I know I am coming up to one of my favourite bits of road. My risk of crashing has probably increased because of those signs.

Go figure that one.

[SPman]

With their population base of about 23 million ... as opposed to our four million .... You just might expect a bit of a difference in the amount gathered in speed camera fines.

Hmmm $50m/4m = $12.50/person/yr
$2000m/23 = $86.96/person/yr

I see room for increased efficiency amongst NZ's road guardians..........they should be good for $350m, at least.........

[FJRider]

Hmmm $50m/4m = $12.50/person/yr
$2000m/23 = $86.96/person/yr

I see room for increased efficiency amongst NZ's road guardians..........they should be good for $350m, at least.........

I think it plainly shows that speed cameras in New Zealand ARE working to keep speeds down. And New Zealand motorists respect the posted speed limits more than their Australian cobbers ...

And shows the result of the higher wage and salaries in Australia. The bastards have more money to waste on fines ...

[pritch]

My limited experience of driving in Victoria suggests that people there take speed limits much more seriously than we do.
All kinds of superbikes stuck behind a truck for miles on a straight road but nobody dares risk a pass?

About the same time there was a KBer posted saying how he was passing all and sundry in Melbourne which convinced him that nobody there could match his awsome riding skills. More likely they knew the huge amount of shite that would befall them if detected speeding. Ignorance is bliss.

Oz cops aren't big into "discussion" either, you start talking, they put a hand on their Glock. That's a big hint to shut up, best take it.
As Henry Cole observed, Australia is something of a Police state.

[st00ji]

how do speeding fines in Australia compare in value to tickets here?

not 7 or 8 times more than NZ im sure.

interesting statistic!

[rastuscat]

Interesting little experiment happened in NSW a few years back.

The Popos stopped writing speeding tickets to put pressure on the Gubbermint in regard to a wage dispute. They got a payrise, but that's not the issue.

While the dispute was ongoing, people became aware of the chance of getting pinged diminishing. Up went the 85th percentile.

The payrise ticket-stoppage cost a significant number of additional deaths, which settled back down to the normal rate when the dispute was over.

I have the stats somewhere, just not right on hand.

[kinger]

Oz cops aren't big into "discussion" either, you start talking, they put a hand on their Glock. That's a big hint to shut up, best take it.

......and you believe they're going to shoot you for back chat?

Henry Cole, the slight embarrassment to Pommie bikers who stated that the advisory speeds posted on corners in NZ were pretty much spot on for a biker.

[bluninja]

Interesting little experiment happened in NSW a few years back.

The Popos stopped writing speeding tickets to put pressure on the Gubbermint in regard to a wage dispute. They got a payrise, but that's not the issue.

While the dispute was ongoing, people became aware of the chance of getting pinged diminishing. Up went the 85th percentile.

The payrise ticket-stoppage cost a significant number of additional deaths, which settled back down to the normal rate when the dispute was over.

I have the stats somewhere, just not right on hand.

Any rise may have been coincidental and would be statistically insignificant; much like when the police claim that a speeding crackdown has claimed lives based on one years data. When the next year comes along and the same program runs and there are more deaths then other reasons are found for the rise.

Hmmmmm...popo want more money, stop issuing roadside tax, government give pay rise. Sounds like my OP that speeding tickets are a nice little earner is spot on according to your post above.

The issue of how best to provide safer road journeys whilst maintaining commerce and freedom to travel is a different issue.

[Berg]

Henry Cole, the slight embarrassment to Pommie bikers who stated that the advisory speeds posted on corners in NZ were pretty much spot on for a biker.

Well, he WAS riding a Harley

[Thruxton]

You can get the photo sent to you online. The last one I received was quite tastefully done I thought.
Mind you for $230.00 so it should be.

My Dear Great Aunt turned 100 recently and P. Dunne was the presenter of her birthday card from the Queen, she was heard to mumble under her breath, "What a Prick".

[R650R]

Any rise may have been coincidental and would be statistically insignificant; much like when the police claim that a speeding crackdown has claimed lives based on one years data. When the next year comes along and the same program runs and there are more deaths then other reasons are found for the rise.

Yep bit like the 4k tolerance, they did a big rain dance about the second time around when there were no fatals... then the next holiday road toll period it was business as usual for the reaper.
While I agree we need limits and laws to some degree I really get annoyed by the miss use of stats.
I think congestion is underrated in reducing our road toll, there's so much traffic now its hard for the crazies to do anything silly that will cause a crash.

[geoffm]

The police don't get to keep the money. Or even decide what the money should be spent on. Those that contribute to ... and continue to contribute to the country's economy ... Treasury offers their thanks.

Riiight - so when the budgets are made, the revenue isn't a consideration - that $50m isn't allowed for in the expected income?? The minister of police won't put pressure on the commissioner to deliver if takings are down?
They don't need to keep the dosh for it to be a KPI. Ask any salesman...

[RDJ]

My limited experience of driving in Victoria suggests that people there take speed limits much more seriously than we do. All kinds of superbikes stuck behind a truck for miles on a straight road but nobody dares risk a pass? Oz cops aren't big into "discussion" either, you start talking, they put a hand on their Glock. That's a big hint to shut up, best take it.

Yes, this has been my experience while over here too. I haven't been speeding but once or twice reflexively filtered around the CBD and hooboy, no-one was grinning…

And the 'in yer face' attitude of The Law Gang is well exemplified by this

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/pe...120-2xurz.html

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/...cer-s-outburst

Note especially the threat of rape-as-punishment made by the policeman because the alleged offender was running his mouth… but he will not be fired, just "spoken to".

[Pixie]

Riiight - so when the budgets are made, the revenue isn't a consideration - that $50m isn't allowed for in the expected income?? The minister of police won't put pressure on the commissioner to deliver if takings are down?
They don't need to keep the dosh for it to be a KPI. Ask any salesman...

Oh,it's better than that.NZTA and ACC contract the pigs to supply "road safety" enforcement.This is audited on the basis of number of "contacts" made.Failure to keep up the quota of "contacts" will see next year's contract reduced in value.ergo less new toys for the tax collector piggies.

No ,there is no connection between the fines and the police.