Catching red light runners

Keeping an eye on problem intersections. Photo / Chris Skelton

Motorists were slapped with more than 4000 fines for running red lights in Auckland last year.

More than half were at the same intersection - the central city junction of Wellesley St East and Kitchener St.

Figures obtained from police under the Official Information Act show 4356 tickets were issued to red light runners last year. At $150 each, the fines totalled more than $650,000.

The intersection of Wellesley and Kitchener saw 2788 tickets handed out for running a red. The junction was the scene of 19 crashes from 2001 to 2005, including five involving pedestrians.

Cameras have been operating in Auckland City since May 2008 as part of a trial scheme run by police and Auckland City Council. The aim is to cut the number of crashes in the city. Almost 700 crashes were caused by red light running between 2002 and 2007.

Last year fines were issued as a result of cameras at four trial locations: Union and Nelson Sts; Hobson and Cook Sts; Wellesley St West and Albert St; and Wellesley St East and Kitchener St. A camera was also at the corner of Karangahape Rd and Queen St, but police could not confirm why no tickets were issued there.

Some motorists spoken to this week were aware red light cameras were in use, and most were supportive.

Angela Murphy said she often saw near misses between pedestrians and vehicles running the red light.

Mark Buntzen said red light running was becoming more of a problem, but questioned whether fines were a good solution. "It's something people can disregard quite easily. If you're driving a Mercedes and you get caught, you'll just blow it off."

Heather Armstrong had some sympathy for drivers who tried to sneak through. "It's frustrating waiting at intersection after intersection."

An evaluation last year showed the rate of red light running had fallen by 43 per cent at intersections where cameras were installed.

Network performance manager Karen Hay said the council hoped the number of tickets would drop over time. "No infringements is a measure of success."