From next Tuesday (13 May), the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) will begin rolling out its first mobile safety camera, marking a significant step in the transition of safety camera operations from NZ Police to NZTA.

This new initiative will see speeding vehicles detected not only by the traditional vans used by the police but also by camera-equipped Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), as well as trailers later this year.

This is the first time in New Zealand’s history that safety cameras will be deployed from cars, a move that NZTA hopes will increase road safety across Auckland and beyond.

The cameras will detect vehicles exceeding speed limits, helping to reduce accidents and save lives.

For those of us here on the Hibiscus Coast, this will be an important step in improving safety on our busy roads—especially as many of us regularly travel to Auckland for work or leisure.

Speeding vehicles will be detected by cameras operating in SUVs from next week, with trailers to be added to the fleet later this year. Photo: Supplied.

Tara Macmillan, NZTA's Head of Regulatory Strategic Programmes, shared the importance of this initiative: “Speeding drivers can cause serious and irreparable harm on the roads, including deaths and serious injuries.

Evidence shows that we can reduce the chance of people being killed or seriously injured in crashes if drivers travel within speed limits, and that is why we have safety cameras.”

While the SUV-mounted cameras will be visible to drivers, they won’t be signposted, following research showing that unsigned mobile safety cameras are twice as effective in reducing crashes compared to those with signage.

The aim is clear: reduce road fatalities and injuries by catching speeding drivers, wherever they are.

NZTA's initiative will be part of a broader transition, with NZTA set to take full responsibility for safety camera operations by July 2025.

At that point, NZ Police will no longer operate their mobile safety camera vans.

Importantly, all funds from infringement fees will go directly into the Government Consolidated Fund, not to NZTA.

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