By REBECCA WALSH
The New Zealand police fleet could soon be decked out in blue and fluorescent yellow livery in a move to make the cars - including dedicated traffic patrols - more visible on the road.
Police Minister George Hawkins said that at the moment the cars were virtually indistinguishable from taxis and security vehicles.
Police were searching the Internet to find out what other police forces around the world used, and the new livery was likely to be similar to that of the Kent police in Britain.
Vehicles dedicated to patrolling the roads would also display distinct lettering - possibly "Highway Patrol" - on the side of the car.
"The new livery will be very bright. You will be able to see them a long way away," said Mr Hawkins.
Last year, he was keen on the idea of returning to black and white patrol cars but he said last night that research had shown it was not the best option in terms of road safety and visibility at night.
The head of police operations, Deputy Commissioner Paul Fitzharris, said it was too early to say how many dedicated traffic patrols there would be. It was likely they would appear first in high-risk areas such as Waikato and Auckland.
"We would like to introduce ... more staff to policing the major highways up and down the country."
Mr Fitzharris said that for a long time police had faced criticism that they lacked visibility on major highways. However, they were issuing more tickets for traffic offences than they ever had, particularly for speeding.
Mr Hawkins hoped a decision about the new livery would be made in a week. It would be phased in on new vehicles from later this year - the livery on existing cars would not be replaced.
"The benefits of having visible dedicated traffic units are clear," he said. "There will be improvements in the way crash sites are managed, it will elevate the status of traffic enforcement in the police and, most importantly, will be an obvious reminder to all drivers to drive safely while travelling on New Zealand roads."
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