Accessible News

Top storiesNew ZealandPoliticsBusinessEntertainmentSportsWorld

Cameras set up to catch Auckland red light runners

Tuesday, 4 July 2017

A red light camera will go live at the intersection of Lincoln Rd and Te Pai Place, Henderson in late July.
A red light camera will go live at the intersection of Lincoln Rd and Te Pai Place, Henderson in late July.

Auckland law-breakers could soon find their wallets $150 lighter.

Auckland Transport (AT) has announced six new red light cameras, at intersections across Auckland, would go live in July. Three cameras would be set up in west Auckland.

Six new red light cameras are expected to go live in Auckland in late July, Auckland Transport says.
Six new red light cameras are expected to go live in Auckland in late July, Auckland Transport says.

The intersections of Lincoln Rd and Te Pai Place and, Lincoln Rd and Swanson Rd, Henderson, have had a combined 5 serious and 21 minor crashes in the past five years.

According to AT the combined social cost of the accidents at the intersections was nearly $6.5m.

Police say running a red light can be
Police say running a red light can be 'life or death'. Failing to stop at a red light can warrant a $150 infringement notice.

A recent Ministry of Transport report said the social cost of a road crash or a road injury included: loss of life and life quality, loss of output due to temporary incapacitation, medical costs, legal costs and vehicle damage costs.

The NZ Transport Agency's Auckland statistics between 2012 and 2016 showed there were four deaths and 75 'serious injuries' at signalled intersections due to red light running.

A red light camera will go live at the intersection of Lincoln Rd and Swanson Rd, Henderson in late July. Accidents at the intersection had an estimated total social cost of $3.4 million.
A red light camera will go live at the intersection of Lincoln Rd and Swanson Rd, Henderson in late July. Accidents at the intersection had an estimated total social cost of $3.4 million.

The average social cost per fatal crash was about $4,729,000, the ministry's report said.

Waitemata road policing manager Inspector Trevor Beggs said in a media release running a red light was a risk nobody should be willing to take.

A high-risk crash area sign was installed on Te Pai Place, Henderson, in late June – but has since been covered over.
A high-risk crash area sign was installed on Te Pai Place, Henderson, in late June – but has since been covered over.

'The consequences of choosing to run a red light can be life or death,' he said.

'Increased speed, regardless of vehicle type, puts vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists at greater risk. For them, drivers stopping at red lights and even a small reduction in vehicle speed could save their life.'

The average social cost was about $912,000 per reported serious crash; and about $99,000 per reported minor crash.

The total social cost of motor vehicle injury crashes in 2015 was about $3.79 billion, the Ministry of Transport report said.

Police could issue a $150 infringement notice for failing to stop at a red signalled traffic light, or failing to stop at a yellow signalled traffic light – unless you are so close to the intersection that you can't stop safely.

An AT spokesman said preparation work was underway, and all cameras were expected to go live in late July.

CAMERA LOCATIONS:

At the intersection of: Lincoln Rd/Te Pai Place, Henderson; Lincoln Rd/Swanson Rd, Henderson; Blockhouse Bay Rd/New North Rd, Avondale; Great North Rd/Karangahape Rd, Grey Lynn; Albany Highway/Oteha Valley Rd, Albany; and Esmonde Rd/Fred Thomas Rd, Takapuna.