Scott Aronsen has criticised the installation of new speed safety cameras along State Highway 8 between Lake Tekapo and Twizel, arguing the devices are more focused on collecting fines than preventing crashes.
In a report on state-funded media, Aronsen said the region’s main road safety problems stem from limited passing opportunities, narrow shoulders, inadequate rest areas and intersection issues rather than speeding, while also raising concerns about the amount of vehicle information captured by the cameras.
New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) defended the cameras, saying speed surveys showed 19 percent of motorists exceeded the limit on the route and that similar systems had significantly improved compliance elsewhere.
The agency confirmed the cameras photograph every passing vehicle but said only speeding-related data is retained, with non-offending images deleted after three days. The debate comes as NZTA rolls out a $5 million safety upgrade programme in the Mackenzie district, including new passing lanes, pull-over areas, road widening and additional signage aimed at reducing crashes involving tourists and local drivers alike.
Real traffic dangers are from limited passing opportunities, narrow shoulders, inadequate rest areas and intersection issues – but I’ll bet the cameras are on the long, straight, flat stretches of road.
The agency confirmed the cameras photograph every passing vehicle but said only speeding-related data is retained, with non-offending images deleted after three days? Deleted after the non -offending data is transferred to the states mainframe. Looks like we got a job for the bladerunners.
Well said!
The dogs of doom are howling more,
Their hounds bite throats—we’re at war.
We must rise now, stop their terror,
They’re after you; don’t make an error.
Resist, defy, and do not cower—
These stooges live by abuse of power.
Even NZTA admits they’re about “improving compliance”.
Compliance is everything to these jobsworths. Results in reducing deaths are incidental.
Saying that 19% of drivers were speeding is just another way of saying that 81% of drivers don’t. Those cameras aren’t necessary.
They’re talking 💩 and they know it.
Yeah just hit the law-abiding drivers to make up for the tailgating f*ckheads in hoodies with their scumbag faces planted in their bullsh*t phone screens in rasping sh*thead lowered backfiring horsesh*t cars weaving between lanes with no indicators crossing centrelines on corners vibrating their pounding ranting-rapper dipsh*t bass every f*cking-where they go .