We use a combination of modelling and local expert insights to inform where, and what type of safety cameras we install. It’s all about putting cameras where they’ll make the biggest difference in preventing serious crashes.
Safety cameras have been used in New Zealand and internationally for many years.
We have developed criteria potential locations need to meet to be a safety camera site. In developing these criteria we looked at the evidence of where cameras have proven most effective at reducing deaths and serious injuries.
Note that crashes are not the only indicator of risk or an indicator that a particular camera will reduce that risk.
On this page, we use the following terms:
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Type of safety camera |
Criteria for potential locations |
|---|---|
| Average speed |
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| Spot speed |
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| Dual red light or speed |
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When data shows there is an issue that may be addressed by a new safety camera, we follow the below process.
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What we do |
Why we do it |
|---|---|
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We work with local councils (other Road Controlling Authorities) to use their knowledge and insights, including information about other safety interventions. |
This helps us prioritise camera sites and make sure we put any camera in a location where it works well with other interventions, on both state highways and local roads. |
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We engage with NZ Police while choosing sites. |
NZ Police knowledge of high risk locations helps ensure that the safety camera complements plans for road policing in and around a camera location. |
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We visit the site to confirm there’s room on the roadside and infrastructure (power and internet connections) to put in a safety camera. |
This helps us understand if we can operate a safety camera at that location, without introducing additional safety risks. |
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We run a speed survey to collect baseline speed data for spot speed, average speed and red light/speed safety cameras. |
This helps us verify that speeding is an issue. |
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We visit sites again with safe system designers like engineers, power companies and traffic management plan providers. |
This validates our initial assessment and helps us get ready for site design and construction. |
NZTA reserves the right to use judgement in the placement of safety cameras.
Mobile safety cameras reduce deaths and serious injuries when they discourage speeding everywhere. We call this ‘general deterrence’ and that’s why we deploy them nationwide ‘anytime, anywhere’.
To get that general deterrence we deploy both to locations where data shows there is a high risk and other locations as nominated by the community and our road safety partners.
This approach allows us to more flexibly address risk as, and where it occurs – for example where speeding is more or less of an issue at certain times of the day or year. Or where there is an emerging risk, not yet appearing in historic data,
The following criteria for mobile safety cameras are used to prioritise the frequency of visits to a particular location.
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Site classification/priority |
Criteria |
|---|---|
| High |
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| Medium High |
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| Medium |
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| Medium Low |
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| Low |
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How mobile safety cameras work
We use surveys to tell us the speed people are travelling and how often they’re speeding. When we know the average speed of vehicles using that part of the road, this helps to inform if it’s the right place for a safety camera.
Surveys use:
Speed survey cameras don’t identify a vehicle’s driver or registered person, and don’t issue infringements. An independent supplier owns and operates them – the supplier destroys photos and data within a month.
We never receive any photos or information identifying vehicles or people.
