A pair of temporary traffic cameras south of Dunedin could become permanent following a speed survey conducted over the coming weeks.
A New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi spokesperson said the two cameras recently installed at Allanton and Waihola on State Highway 1 would measure drivers’ average speed between the two points.
"This is purely a survey to decide if this is a good site for a permanent set of average speed cameras in the future" the spokesperson said.
"There is no enforcement action coming from this survey.’’
The cameras take an image and capture the time of vehicles entering and exiting the measurement zone, using automated number plate recognition to identify vehicles.
NZTA never receives any photos or information identifying vehicles or people and data is destroyed within a month, the spokesperson said.
The aim is to reduce speed along a stretch of road, rather than at a single point — the cameras have been credited with significantly reducing serious injuries and deaths on roads on which they were installed.
The temporary cameras would collect speed data for "two to three weeks into May’’.
"Signs are in place noting ‘Traffic Count in Progress’ — this is not an enforcement situation [and] people should continue to drive as they normally would.
"We use surveys to tell us the speed people are travelling and how often they’re speeding.
"The average speed ... helps to inform if it’s the right place for a permanent safety camera.’’
The speed surveys were also being conducted on SH6 between Lumsden and Kingston.
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