KEY POINTS:
A cardboard cutout police car is slowing traffic at Nelson road work sites in an initiative roading contractors hope may cut speed nationwide.
Fulton Hogan is using the fake police car to slow drivers near road works in the Nelson region, The Nelson Mail reported.
The $1000 model has been used for just over a week, with better results that speed restriction signs, regional manager Tim Talbot said.
Seeing the car prompted some drivers to slow down and others to put on seatbelts.
The idea, the brainchild of the company's traffic management supervisor Mike Gibney, originated out of concern that staff may be injured by speeding motorists.
The two-dimensional cutout car was placed at sites where the speed limit was reduced from 100km/h to 30km/h, and was moved between sites to keep drivers guessing.
Mr Gibney was monitoring speed using a hand held speed gun and planned to present his findings to Transit New Zealand, in the hope the initiative will be adopted nationally.
Tasman district road policing manager Hugh Flower said police were impressed by the idea.
- NZPA
