Overtly operated mobile speed cameras have been used in New Zealand since late 1993. Their operation has been confined to specific sites (called "speed camera areas") which are generally road sections with a record of speed-related crashes. A trial of hidden speed cameras began in mid-1997 in 100 km/h speed limit areas in one of New Zealand's four police regions. This trial is still in progress and the current paper reports the results of an evaluation of the first year of the trial. During that period, the hidden camera programme was found (compared with the generally highly visible speed camera enforcement in the rest of New Zealand) to be associated with net falls in speeds, crashes and casualties - both in speed camera areas and on 100 km/h speed limit roads generally - along with changes in public attitudes to speed and speed enforcement. Compared with the localised effect of visible cameras on speeds and crashes mainly in speed camera areas, the hidden cameras had a more general effect on all roads. Crash and casualty rates and speeds are continually being monitored to evaluate the longer-term effects of the hidden camera programme. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E202275.
Abstract