Drivers back speed cameras

By MATHEW DEARNALEY


A ban on hidden speed cameras, and on police lurking behind trees to catch unsuspecting motorists, is out of step with public opinion.

The Land Transport Safety Authority's annual survey of public attitudes to road safety found 56 per cent of the 1640 participants - 1440 of whom were licensed to drive - supported hidden speed cameras.

Just 28 per cent opposed using subterfuge to bring offenders to heel, and the other 16 per cent were neutral.

Guidelines from police headquarters ban hidden or camouflaged cameras or laser speed detectors.

But the advent of designated highway patrols has eased public clamouring for the police to put more effort into traffic enforcement.

Just 40 per cent wanted the police to do more, compared with 66 per cent in 1996, and half thought about the right amount of effort was going into traffic duties.

Those who thought the police were too heavy-handed remain a minority, but have risen from 1 per cent to 8 per cent over the eight years.

Most of those surveyed - 56 per cent - believed penalties for breaking road rules were about right, and 59 per cent felt speed cameras were operated fairly.

Road policing operations manager Inspector John Kelly welcomed the findings, saying they confirmed public support for efforts to improve road safety, despite claims by "a vocal minority" that the real agenda was revenue-gathering.

Mr Kelly said the police were following a Government directive not to use hidden cameras. But he also believed undisguised cameras were a more effective deterrent, keeping motorists constantly watchful, especially under the "anytime, anywhere" policy of not confining cameras to designated zones.

The authority is meanwhile claiming victory for its advertising campaigns, with just 7 per cent of those surveyed believing an accident was unlikely after drinking as long as the driver was careful.

This was the same as last year, but well down from 13 per cent in 1995. Although 20 per cent admitted to driving while "slightly intoxicated" in the previous 12 months, this was down from 24 per cent last year and 32 per cent in 1996.

A record 54 per cent said they had been stopped at police checkpoints at least once in the 12 months.

Most were happy about speed limits.

Although 82 per cent believed their roads were safe, there were disturbing regional variations, especially in Northland and the Waikato.

Northland roads were deemed unsafe by 38 per cent of respondents from that region, including 11 per cent who believed they were very unsafe. In Waikato, 27 per cent were worried about safety.

Transit New Zealand's acting operations manager, Graham Taylor, referred to the rugged terrain of parts of Northland, but said the agency was doing what it could within its budgets to make roads safer in both regions.

He pointed to plans to lengthen the Northern Motorway and to extend dual carriageways through the Waikato, both on State Highway 1 south of Mercer and along about 30km of State Highway 2 from the foot of the Bombay Hills.

Drink driving

* 20 per cent admitted to driving while "slightly intoxicated" - down from 24 per cent last year and 32 per cent in 1996.

* 54 per cent said they had been stopped at police alcohol checkpoints at least once in the 12 months, compared with just 35 per cent eight years earlier.