29 September 2011

Red Light Camera Report Released

Auckland Transport today released an evaluation report on a red light camera pilot undertaken in Auckland’s central business district (CBD) from 2008 to 2011. The pilot was conducted to monitor and assess the impact of the cameras on red light running, including the impact on crashes and pedestrian injuries.

The report will assist in informing the Ministry of Transport to develop a national policy for red light cameras, as part of Safer Journeys, the government’s road safety strategy to 2020. The policy will be completed by April 2012.The Ministry will draw on a range of research including the results of the pilot.

Seventy five per cent of Aucklanders polled as part of the report support the use of red light cameras as a means of reducing crash risk.

Auckland Transport’s Manager Road Safety, Karen Hay, says, “Intersection crashes are the leading type of injury crash in Auckland. Red-light running at traffic signals is a major crash risk throughout Auckland and the trial in Auckland’s CBD showed the benefits that the cameras could have in a broader spread throughout the city”.

To conduct the study, two red light cameras were installed and rotated between ten CBD intersections in Auckland where a high number of crashes were recorded due to red light running.

Ms Hay says, “The pilot demonstrated positive safety benefits at high risk intersections in the Auckland CBD. Initial evaluation findings include; an average 43 per cent reduction in red light running behaviour at red light camera sites and an average 69 per cent decrease in red light running crashes at red light camera sites”.

Ministry of Transport’s spokesperson Barry Kidd said, “The next steps for the government include evaluating how red light cameras fit into the mix of road safety tools; where else in New Zealand red light cameras could be appropriate, and considering responsibility for the funding, purchase, installation, operation and maintenance of red light cameras”.

The red light cameras currently used in Auckland will remain in use while a national policy is being developed.

The pilot was initiated by the previous Auckland City Council in 2006. The project stakeholders are: Auckland Transport; NZ Police, the NZ Transport Agency, New Zealand Automobile Association and the Ministry of Transport.

ENDS

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