Editorial: Red light runners need pain in wallet

What is it with the impatience of our city's drivers?

In yesterday's story about red-light runners, police said drivers appeared confused about what the traffic lights mean.

My kids could have told you what they mean when they were pre-schoolers.

I don't believe any moderately intelligent driver out there believes an amber or orange light means speed up.

They're certainly quite happy to interpret it that way, but they all know what they should be doing.

Just two days ago, sitting at Koutu Corner lights, I watched as two vehicles sped through from Clayton Rd into Old Taupo Rd, while in the background a green arrow instructed right-turning traffic from Old Taupo to turn into Lake Rd.

A few days before that, as I neared the Rotorua Boys' High School lights, multiple vehicles rounded the bend across oncoming traffic in my lane, who should have had right of way.

But perhaps the scariest examples are at the Ranolf St lights, where I've seen huge trucks plough through at speed down Amohau St.

These examples are all drivers who enter intersections knowing full well they have had plenty of time to slow and stop for the red.

It's not like we live in Auckland, or even Tauranga, where traffic is so heavy it can take an age to get anywhere across the city. This is little ol' Rotorua, and having to wait a few minutes at the few sets of traffic lights you might face isn't going to ruin your day.

I'm not sure if the problem is getting worse but police say they have been issuing a lot of tickets for the offence lately, and I certainly take a lot more care entering intersections than I used to.

The sooner measures like red-light cameras can be brought in at our worst intersections the better.

If a bright light isn't a strong enough indication for dimwitted drivers, perhaps a sharp sting in the wallet will do the trick.

What do you think?

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