Some weeks ago, a video emerged on social media and in the news of some lads speeding down Auckland’s Northwestern Motorway at over 200km/h. The first half of the video is filmed from the back seat; the young driver weaves his Golf GTI through quite busy traffic with little regard for himself, his passengers, or other road users – cool and calm as he shows off his ‘skill’ behind the wheel. He is clearly filming the second half as he drives one-handed at up to 230km/h. Looking for the news reports of this video online, I’ve stumbled across a few other stories of drivers caught at 200km-plus. It’s well-established that younger men are most likely to exhibit such behaviour and, unsurprisingly, the drivers mentioned in these stories were mostly younger guys – 18 to 25 years old.

That’s by the by, really; it’s not like they’re the only demographic to speed – though they may be more reckless in doing so, like ol’ mate in the video. Nonetheless, regardless of whether it’s midday or the early hours of the morning, whether you’re alone in the car or the only one on the road, there’s no excuse for pounding down the motorway at double the speed limit.

Thankfully, such transgressions are not everyday occurrence on New Zealand’s motorways and expressways. But that doesn’t mean drivers don’t push the limits, as it were. Hit the road at any time, and there will always be someone ‘in a hurry’.

It’s why I’ve never thought there’s much point to speed cameras – other than the dollars they generate, of course. People who know the locations of spot speed cameras simply slow down at that point and yes, a mobile camera could turn up anywhere at any time. But I’d be surprised if that ‘threat’ leads to a measurable reduction in speeding overall.

If you want to truly enforce speed limits on a particular stretch of road using cameras, average speed cameras (two cameras working in tandem to measure drivers’ average speed as they travel between them) must be the most effective. We know NZTA is currently installing and/or testing these in some locations throughout the Auckland region and one in Waikato. The first to be operational later this year is at Matakana Road, Warkworth.

Just this week, the agency announced the construction of another set of average speed cameras along a (roughly) 4km section of road on Dairy Flat, north of Auckland. In its announcement, the agency said a speed survey revealed 74% of drivers sped on this 80km/h road, with an average speed of 90km/h.

Interestingly, only one of the planned average speed cameras is on a state highway – the Waikato one on SH2 from Pōkeno to Mangatāwhiri. I’d have expected the likes of the Waikato Expressway to feature. However, it’ll be interesting to see the cameras’ effectiveness once they’re operational, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if more were to be rolled out around the country.

While we’re at it, what about a rethink of where static cameras are installed and where mobile cameras are deployed for them to be truly effective? Outside schools and maraes, or through roadworks, for example …

I’m not saying we need cameras on every section of motorway and outside every institution – just more of the right kinds in the right spots.

Take care out there,

Gavin Myers
Editor