Six red-light cameras installed

Six new safety cameras have been installed across different Auckland intersections, with more to come in the year according to Auckland Transport.

The cameras installed will operate with advanced technology to help improve safety at high-risk intersections.

They will operate remotely and data will be sent to a central location.

The new cameras will be located at the intersection of Lincoln Rd and Swanson Rd, Lincoln Rd and Te Pai Place, Albany Highway and Oteha Valley Rd, Great North Rd and Karangahape Rd, Blockhouse Bay Rd and New North Rd, and Esmonde Rd and Fred Thomas Drive. Auckland Transport’s chief transport operations officer Andrew Allen says good safety cameras are ones that don’t need to take photos as he believes people should be stopping before approaching a red light.

“We know that safety cameras work to make intersections safer and save many lives. Red-light running is very common, especially with drivers aged 20 to 39. This group causes 58 per cent of crashes where red lights are ignored and someone is injured.”

NZ Transport Agency’s crash data shows that four people died and 75 were seriously injured in Auckland between 2012 and 2016 because of red-light running crashes.

The Automobile Association’s Barney Irvine says AA members get fired up the most about red-light running compared to other road safety issues.

“Our members are sick and tired of red-light runners putting other road users — and themselves — at risk.

“Ninety per cent of Auckland AA members say they want to see more cameras at intersections. We’re delighted to see Auckland Transport push ahead with this, and we’d love to see the same approach rolled out in other main centres.”