The New Zealand Transport Agency's new speed camera-equipped SUVs detected nearly 70,000 driving offences in their first four months of operation.
The nondescript SUVs first hit the road in May, replacing police vans, when NZTA took over control of New Zealand's speed enforcement tools. There are now 34 SUVs in operation up and down the country, alongside camera-equipped trailers.
According to numbers released by NZTA, the mobile SUV cameras detected 67,308 offences (Activation Notices, Infringement Notices, and Traffic Offence Notices) between May 12 and August 21.
The cameras generated $928,960 in fines, with all revenue allocated to the Government Consolidated Fund – not NZTA.
One camera detected 5179 speeding offences, while another issued $104,270 in fines.
The SUVs, were designed to resemble any other vehicle that motorists may spot parked on the side of the road.
The cameras are deployed on an "anytime, anywhere" basis.
NZTA head of regulatory strategic programmes Tara Macmillan previously told 1News: “Mobile cameras will be used in places where there is a risk of people being killed or seriously injured in a crash.
"Evidence shows that unsigned mobile safety cameras are twice as effective at reducing crashes as sign-posted cameras.
"So, while our safety cameras in SUVs and trailers will be visible to drivers and will not be hidden, they won’t be signposted.”
The tools were praised by AA, with spokesperson Dylan Thomsen previously telling 1News they would be effective in changing driver behaviour and, in turn, keeping the roads safe.
"The SUVs are just a lot more nondescript and don't really look any different – it could just be a parked vehicle ahead on an urban road or on a highway. It could be a vehicle that's broken down or pulled over at the side.
"If you're a driver that likes to travel around/ above the speed limit or in the past has liked to travel around/ above the speed limit and then slow down when you've spotted one of those vans up ahead, you are going to be more likely to be caught in the future or now, because it is a lot harder to see one of those parked SUVs."
The SUVs were one of several new tools introduced by NZTA, with trailers and new average speed cameras popping up across the country.
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NZTA's static cameras issued a total of 79,364 infringement notices between July 1 and August 31. The total dollar value of all infringements from NZTA's first two months was $4.78 million.
Macmillan said the purpose of speed cameras was to reduce harm on the roads and not generate revenue.
"The evidence clearly shows that where safety cameras have been used in New Zealand and overseas, they reduce speeds and reduce the harm caused by crashes. Because of this, they’re proven to significantly reduce deaths and serious injuries.
"Speed can be the difference between death, a life-changing injury and walking away from a crash unharmed. Alongside other improvements, safety cameras will contribute to a transport system that protects us all."
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