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Red-light runners are being warned to slow down or face being dobbed in by their fellow commuters.
Manukau City Council has launched a road safety campaign dubbed 0800 STOP 4 RED in a bid to cut the number of accidents and near-misses at intersections controlled by traffic lights.
Anyone who sees someone running a red light is encouraged to call the 0800 line to report the car's registration number to council officers.
A warning letter will then be sent to the offender, telling them they have been seen running a red light.
Anyone reported running a red light several times will be referred to the police.
Manukau City Council's transport portfolio leader, Councillor David Collings, said the initiative was a move to get people to change dangerous - and sometimes deadly - driving behaviour.
"People are putting their lives at risk. When your light goes green and two cars run through a red [light], it's frustrating because you're thinking, 'That could have been an accident'."
Mr Collings said the council had already budgeted to have red-light
traffic cameras installed at intersections to catch red-light runners - something, however, that will not happen for another few years.
"It's more trying to change dangerous behaviour - it's more of a warning. For those who can't make the change, then they're going to be punished in the future."
NZ Transport Agency statistics showed that between 2003 and 2008, there were 238 car accidents involving a vehicle that did not stop at a red light or red arrow in Manukau City.
Senior Sergeant Mike Stopforth of Counties Manukau police said the side-on crashes at intersections as a result of a red-light runner were more likely to have deadly consequences.
"Getting hit by the side - the injuries are going to be worse than getting hit in the back."
Mr Stopforth said that although the problem was region-wide, red-light running was a serious issue in Manukau City.
"That's evident by the number of crashes at intersections.
"I don't think we'll ever get rid of the problem, but what we're wanting to do is raise people's awareness as to how prolific this is."
