Tickets for 5kmh over
Police will again enforce a lower speed threshold this summer.
Each summer holiday period since 2013/14 the police have lowered the speed at which they start issuing fines to motorists.
For most of the year, officers and speed cameras targeted vehicles travelling 10kmh or more above the limit, but during the summer period this was reduced to 5kmh. Over the past year there have been 372 deaths on the country’s roads – 48 more than the 12 months prior, New Zealand Transport Agency statistics showed.
Of these, 193 were drivers, 82 passengers, 44 on motorbikes, 36 pedestrians and 17 cyclists.
National road policing manager Superintendent Steve Greally said the reason for the reduced threshold over summer was to slow and calm traffic when more people might be using the roads.
Exactly when the lower threshold will be enacted and lifted would be finalised in early December, he said.
‘‘Police’s focus is on ensuring people are driving safely and to the conditions of the road, and officers use discretion in ticketing drivers,’’ Greally said.
‘‘We would be delighted not to have to issue any infringements notices, as this would show everyone was driving safely and not putting themselves or others at risk
‘‘Police's focus is on ensuring people are driving safely and to the conditions of the road, and officers use discretion in ticketing drivers.’’