Sign of the times: Parnell's pointed speed camera message

NZ Herald

30 Oct, 2018 01:00 AM2 mins to read

An arrow under a new speed camera on Tamaki Drive has highlighted its position. Photo / Dean Purcell

One of Auckland's newest speed cameras stands out more than ever.

A static speed camera in Parnell now features a prominent sign with a giant arrow pointing to where it is perched.

The camera on Tamaki Drive is one of 33 locations across the country where new digital cameras were installed this year.

But the sign was not placed on the speed camera by disgruntled motorists, rather it's the work of the Breast Cancer Foundation.

The sign was put up over the weekend as part of the foundation's Pink Star Walk, which was held on Saturday.

"Any highlighting of the speed camera was purely coincidental," a spokeswoman said.

The confusion around the sign comes as the third phase of a $10 million static camera expansion programme is rolled out.

Someone has attached an arrow beneath a new speed camera on Tamaki Drive. Photo / Dean Purcell

All the sites that received new cameras were identified as having a high crash risk based on analysis from independent traffic experts on fatal and injury crashes.

At the time of their introduction Inspector Peter McKennie, the operations manager of road policing, denied that speed cameras were used to collect revenue, pointing to the fact that money from camera infringements goes to the Crown's consolidated fund, not to police.

International research showed speed cameras encouraged drivers to slow down and reduced speeds helped reduced injuries and fatalities on roads, he said.

"Road crashes have devastating impacts on families and communities," McKennie said.

"We're only interested in the impact the cameras have on encouraging people to slow down to safe and appropriate speeds, so they get to their destination safely."