The Police Minister was confused about the speed enforcement message. I was confused about the zero-tolerance policy and Driven readers ignored it.
So it's been great to see the minister, Michael Woodhouse, admit he had concerns about the summer speed-enforcement message, saying it was confusing and ambiguous.
Seventeen people werekilled on the roads over the official Christmas-New Year holiday period, more than double the 2013-14 toll of seven. Woodhouse admitted this week he asked the police to review the zero-tolerance message, and Driven readers have some ammunition. In our online poll last week, when I asked if you stayed within the speed limit during the holidays, 55 per cent said they hadn't.
But in the other corner, Police Commissioner Mike Bush pushed the zero-tolerance message, saying, "Do not drive at anything over the limit."
Jeez, talk about mixed messages from the police and their minister.
For a start, the zero-tolerance period is too long. Keep it to the stat days only - not for two months. Please let's not follow Australia's permanent zero-tolerance.
I'm in Iceland this week for the all-new Land Rover Discovery Sport launch. Here, police cars have front-facing speed cameras on the dashboard to nab speedsters coming towards them.
Maybe these cameras are the answer in New Zealand. Have more police cars on the road patrolling the motorways and high-risk areas, and they can still ticket those speeding Kiwis.
Whatever happens, let's get this sorted before the Easter break, because I have zero tolerance for being mucked around while trying to drive on our roads.
