Liz Dobson: Better answer than taking easy pickings

Photo / NZME.

As we debate whether the zero-tolerance speed campaign worked during the holiday period, we should look at Australia as an example of what to do.

Our road toll for last year was 297, and 17 people were killed over the official holiday period.

But in Australia the road toll fell last year to its lowest in almost 70 years. The total number of road deaths last year was 1155 - down 3.1 per cent from 2013.

In Queensland, a 'fatal five' campaign is targeting speeding, drink and drug driving, failure to wear a seatbelt, and driving while fatigued.

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Part of that road safety plan has been the introduction of tougher laws, upgraded roads and better enforcement and education.

"An additional 800 frontline police and our dedicated road policing command have been instrumental in targeting the 'fatal five' throughout 2014," said Queensland's acting police minister, Andrew Powell.

It's the Aussies increased police presence that stood out for me.

During the official holiday period I was frustrated at seeing police taking easy pickings on popular - and not busy - Auckland roads.

They included an officer with radar gun at the start of the 50km/h Tamaki Drive, and one at a motorway junction where the speed limit was 80km/h, with the 100km/h sign only a few metres ahead.

I want a visible presence on our roads - more marked police cars on motorways and targeting high risk areas rather than parked on the side of the road.

I was also annoyed at the long duration of the zero-tolerance. Are we expected to spend summer watching our speedos rather than what is happening around us on the roads?