Speeding costs drivers $1.6m

Rotorua motorists may have forked out nearly $1.6 million in speeding fines during the past year but speeding tickets and speed-related crashes have tumbled.

Speeding infringements have dropped by 25 per cent in Rotorua during the past two years.

Police figures show 17,190 motorists were snapped over the limit during the last financial year, down from 22,969 in the 2010/11 year.

Bay of Plenty road policing manager Inspector Kevin Taylor said speed-related crashes in the area had also declined.

In the 2011/12 financial year, no fatal speed-related crashes occurred in Rotorua. The two prior financial years recorded two and five fatal crashes, respectively.

"It is pleasing to see those numbers reducing," Mr Taylor said. "In fact all crashes across the Bay of Plenty, which includes Rotorua and Tauranga, have declined in recent months and continue to decline."

Staff have also reported a noticeable reduction in speed over the past few years.

"As more drivers slow down, less crashes occur. If we are catching less people speeding because there are less people to catch, then that is a good thing."

Despite this, Rotorua drivers were fined nearly $1.6 million by police for speeding during the past financial year.

Nationally, fines amounted to at least $80 million for the period, during which more than 900,000 speeding tickets were issued.

Figures show ticket numbers have remained steady in the past two financial years, but fines have dropped by about $3 million, down from $83,619,720 in 2010/11 to $80,155,710 in 2011/12.

These figures do not include fines for those caught driving at more than 50km/h over the limit because they are imposed by the court system.

National road policing manager Superintendent Carey Griffiths said many speed-related crashes were caused by motorists travelling at 10km/h over the speed limit.

In the 2011/12 financial year, police dedicated $51 million to speed enforcement.

The numbers

By financial year:

1. 2011/2012;

2. 2010/2011;

3. 2009/2010

ROTORUA

Speeding tickets:

1. 17,190;

2. 22,969;

3. 11,243

Fines:

1. $1,598,280;

2. $2,075,730;

3. $1,175,490

Speed-related fatal and serious crashes:

1. 7;

2. 11;

3. 12

Fastest driver in 2011/2012: 160km/h