Red light cameras haven't worked for two years

By STUART DYE, transport reporter

Cameras installed to catch drivers running red lights have not been working for more than two years.

The cameras, mounted at traffic lights throughout Auckland City, were turned off after a report found they were not cost effective.

Peter Kippenberger, regional manager of the Land Transport Safety Authority, said that the cameras had been "well past their use-by date".

The authority has recently launched an advertising campaign warning drivers to "take another look at intersections".

But Mr Kippenberger said that only a tiny percentage of crashes were caused by people running red lights.

The Auckland City Council gave the cameras to police about 15 years ago and revenue from fines or prosecutions went into the Government's consolidated fund.

But when the "wet flash" technology became too expensive, the cameras were scrapped.

Karen Hay, the council's traffic safety manager, said work was under way to find replacement cameras.

"There are trials of new digital technology in Australia and we are looking at whether it could be applied here."

Mr Kippenberger said red-light cameras would return now that the technology was up to scratch.

"We have commissioned the Australian Road Research Board to produce best-practice guidelines for their use.

"My prediction is that people will get interested in them again."

Improved technology, which allowed the cameras to double as speed cameras and be moved to different sites, meant they could be a cost-effective enforcement tool, Mr Kippenberger said.

However, Australian studies found red-light cameras did not have a great impact on crash totals, although they did affect the types and severity of accidents.

Police and safety agencies urged motorists not to exploit the fact that the red-light cameras were defunct.

Auckland police district communications manager Noreen Hegarty said patrols were regularly dispatched to intersection "hot spots" around the city.

Herald Feature: Road safety