Speed Camera Changes

[riderboris]

Hi Riderz,
After purchasing a radar detector recently, I did some research (some of the camera's dont get recognized), into why they weren't coming up.

It seems that a large number of the cameras are not even active, they are currently in the testing phase (and not live for tickets).
This is an issue because they cause the same response as all of the other cameras out there (cars dropping to half of the speed limit) through these zones.

The other thing that I found was that the NZ Police public listing of cameras is out of date.
https://www.police.govt.nz/sites/def...es-oct2024.pdf

this is probably in part due to the handover fro the police to NZTA (those money grubbing b'stards) of the cameras (see below).
https://www.nzta.govt.nz/safety/driv...era-locations/
and here:
https://www.nzta.govt.nz/safety/driv...-camera-sites/

if it was all about making the roads safer and having people slow down in black spots (some of us remember), then they would still give the GPS co-ordinates of these cameras.

To encourage the powers that be to be reasonable (open and honest) I urge everyone on this forum to send an OIA request to NZTA to the following e-mail address.
Government agencies are representative agencies and as such must have 100% transparancy.
(if they get enough requests they will publicize the locations as was done with the NZ Police).

Official.Correspondence@nzta.govt.nz
here is a draft for you:

To the OIA Team,
Under the Official Information Act, please provide the following information that is not included on the NZTA Website.

A comprehensive list of all 'safety Camera' Locations including the following for each:

• Camera Location (street location
• Camera GPS Co-ordinates
• Camera Type (speed / red light)
• Camera Function (spot speed/ average speed)
• Status / go live date

In addition, lease also include New Sites that are currently being tested in this list, with expected 'go live' dates

[Berries]

It seems that a large number of the cameras are not even active, they are currently in the testing phase (and not live for tickets).
This is an issue because they cause the same response as all of the other cameras out there (cars dropping to half of the speed limit) through these zones.

Isn't that the point?

[SaferRides]

Isn't that the point?

It would be if all of the camera locations made sense.

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[riderboris]

Isn't that the point?

The point is having people drive at less than the speed limit, but most people on NZ road dont even get to the speed limit due to cars that misread their speedo's
I own a car (don't hate me for it) that is a jap import Prius, the speedo overreads (i.e. reads 100 when I am going 91) and there are a huge number of cars that do this, effectively reducing the moving traffic speed to 90 in 100k areas, and in a lot of cases 80-85 because people have been scared to get anywhere near the speed limit.

Then as soon as they see a camera they panic and drop their speed by 10-20kms taking it to 60-70k (in 100k areas)

so there is a difference between reality and stupidity.

[F5 Dave]

All of my bikes have over read. Often by 8%.

GPS on phone will tell you.

[SaferRides]

My wife's previous car (Mazda 2) was dead accurate. After 2 speed camera tickets, we checked it with the phone GPS. She was OK after that!

Always pays to check.

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[F5 Dave]

Must be a wives car thing. Both my wife's (not wives, im not a polygamist) cars were pretty accurate.

[rastuscat]

The point is having people drive at less than the speed limit,

Not really. The point is to have people not exceed a speed limit.

[Racing Dave]

It would be if all of the camera locations made sense.

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There's a 'Safety Camera' on Leeston Rd (Canterbury) south of Springston, in the 100km/h area. Depending on which way you're going, it's either 100m before or 100m after a gentle bend in the road, with a recommended speed of 65km/h.

Thus, you're either slowing for the bend, or accelerating out of it, as you pass the camera.

The camera itself is near-invisible in the roadside tree line, but with the large and obvious Safety Camera Zone signs warning of its presence, I can't imagine how anyone could possibly be caught speeding.

[onearmedbandit]

There's a 'Safety Camera' on Leeston Rd (Canterbury) south of Springston, in the 100km/h area. Depending on which way you're going, it's either 100m before or 100m after a gentle bend in the road, with a recommended speed of 65km/h.

Thus, you're either slowing for the bend, or accelerating out of it, as you pass the camera.

The camera itself is near-invisible in the roadside tree line, but with the large and obvious Safety Camera Zone signs warning of its presence, I can't imagine how anyone could possibly be caught speeding.

Yeah incredibly obvious. Would be a great corner too if it wasn't for the side roads and homes etc. Well not that I paid much attention to those in my youth haha.

[SaferRides]

There's a 'Safety Camera' on Leeston Rd (Canterbury) south of Springston, in the 100km/h area. Depending on which way you're going, it's either 100m before or 100m after a gentle bend in the road, with a recommended speed of 65km/h.

Thus, you're either slowing for the bend, or accelerating out of it, as you pass the camera.

The camera itself is near-invisible in the roadside tree line, but with the large and obvious Safety Camera Zone signs warning of its presence, I can't imagine how anyone could possibly be caught speeding.

Good to know it's not just the Auckland region!

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[rastuscat]

The camera itself is near-invisible in the roadside tree line, but with the large and obvious Safety Camera Zone signs warning of its presence, I can't imagine how anyone could possibly be caught speeding.

Regarding speed camera signs. I know a bit about this, for some undisclosed reasons.

In 1993, when speed cameras were introduced, the sites in which the mobile cameras were to be used were signposted. Those big yellow signs, with SPEED CAMERA AREA written on it. I'm sure we are all familiar, so many of them were stolen, and appeared in student flats.

I'm sure someone probably defended a ticket on the basis that there was no sign, as required. The fact that they had been caught exceeding the speed limit often doesn't get much attention.

It didn't take long for the public to reliase that you could drive with impunity as long as you weren't in a speed camera area. Zillions of tickets still got issued, as you can't fix dumb.

So the signs were removed 12 - 18 months later. "Revenue collecting" became the catch-cry of those who had been used to driving in excess of the speed limit with impunity, as an extension of the time-held view that the MoT and then the Police were just an arm of the treasury.

Nobody seemed to notice that those who didn't exceed speed limits (yes, there were some) didn't seem to have to worry about where the cameras were, or weren't. This remains the same today, but it's an unpopular concept, and seems unlikely to gain wide public aceptance.

A couple of years back a trial was done of cameras capable of detecting seatbelt and cellphone offences. Which are still rampant. At this time, NZTA moved to start calling the cameras "Road Safety Cameras", a reference to the fact that they are likely to become so much more than just speed cameras. As yet, the legislation change needed to roll out those seatbelt and cellphone cameras hasn't been done, but it's coming.

At the time, research was done to determine the efficacy of signage around safety camera sites. It was decided that signs will be erected at fixed camera sites, but not at mobile camera sites, this being the best mix of tactics in terms of behaviour change.

So that's where we are now. Late last year a company called Acusensus was awarded a 5-year contract with NZTA to operate the safety camera programme. They do the roadside offence detection, but the encrypted data is sent to NZTA, who process the tickets. This is gradually being handed over from Police, and the Police Infringement Bureau.

Acusensus is an Australian company with networks in the UK, the USA and likely elsewhere. They are contracted to run speed cameras at present, but are likely to bring their seatblet and cellphone techology here once the legislative hurdles are overcome. They can also do tickets for following too close. Spooky. Bring THAT on.

https://www.acusensus.com/ refers. Worth looking at this if you care to understand the situation. But if you just want to remain ignorant and moan a lot, browse on.

Automated enforcement of this type using AI will be a step we haven't seen before. Technology, and specifically AI, is revolutionizing enforcement by enhancing detection.

Inevitably, it'll all be designated as revenue collecting, scum sucking government bollocks.

But three things remain clear.

1. people who don't exceed speed limits don't have to worry about cameras
2. People who wear seatbelts don't have to worry about cameras
3. people who don't use their phone while driving won't have to worry about cameras

As mentioned, this is unlikely to gain much traction, as society just likes to deflect blame, by moaning about revenue collecting.

Despite the fact that tickets are discretionary: people can choose not to get them, through their behaviour.

Harrumph.

[onearmedbandit]

As mentioned, this is unlikely to gain much traction, as society just likes to deflect blame, by moaning about revenue collecting.

The loud, vocal, and shortsighted segment of society.

[nerrrd]

But three things remain clear.

1. people who don't exceed speed limits don't have to worry about cameras
2. People who wear seatbelts don't have to worry about cameras
3. people who don't use their phone while driving won't have to worry about cameras

As mentioned, this is unlikely to gain much traction, as society just likes to deflect blame, by moaning about revenue collecting.

Despite the fact that tickets are discretionary: people can choose not to get them, through their behaviour.

Harrumph.

I’m astonished daily at the numbers blatantly using their phones in Auckland traffic, that’s going to be extremely difficult to discourage unless those cameras are everywhere or there are regular, citywide blitzes.

*I also catch myself reaching for mine when I know I shouldn’t, is it too late to put that particular cat back in it’s bag…

[rastuscat]

*I also catch myself reaching for mine when I know I shouldn’t, is it too late to put that particular cat back in it’s bag…

Even countries with draconian enforcement regimes and penalties haven't killed the cellphone problem.

In fact, it's not about cellphones. Cellphones are just one distraction amongst many.

Touch screens in cars are as bad, if not worse.