The number of drivers caught by speed cameras has dropped but more tickets are being issued by traffic officers on the road.
New Zealand Police's annual report, tabled in Parliament today, showed 458,622 speed camera fines were issued in 2001/02 compared to 523,362 the year before.
The figures show a decrease in
the number of photographs taken by speed cameras per 100 vehicles and by hour.
The report said this reflected an improved level of compliance with speed limits.
However, the report also showed the number of tickets issued to drivers going over the 100kmh speed limit had increased from 81,375 in 2000/01 to 134,502 in 2001/02.
The number of people ticketed for going over the speed limit in lower than 100kmh areas went from 91,404 to 114,631.
More tickets were also issued to vehicles speeding while towing, with a trailer and heavy motor vehicles.
The overall number of traffic offences and infringements -- including other categories such as drink driving as well as speeding -- rose from 1,178,408 in 2000/01 to 1,262,261 in 2001/02.
National road policing manager Superintendent Steve Fitzgerald told NZPA police enforcement on the road of excessive speed had driven down open road mean speeds in the past two years and also dropped speeds in camera sites.
Mr Fitzgerald said there were more traffic officers on the roads and drivers caught travelling more than 10kph over speed limits were being ticketed.
Drivers caught at the roadside also get demerit points whereas speed camera infringements do not.
The report said the number of tickets issued for drink driving offences dropped from 26,139 in 2000/01 to 25,348 in 2001/02.
- NZPA
