How we choose safety camera locations

We use modelling (that tells us how likely people are to be killed or seriously injured in a crash, and if safety cameras are likely to reduce that risk) and data and information from strategic partners and consider other planned safety improvements.

Modelling draws on (among other things):

• average speed data
• road layout
• safe and appropriate speeds
• crash data
• One Network Framework.

One Network Framework (external link) 

Other safety tools and other road controlling authorities (RCAs) use the base model in their road safety improvements.

This helps us identify potential safety camera sites (high risk sites) across the motu (country) that will reduce deaths and serious injuries.

We work with local councils (also RCAs) to use their knowledge and insights, including information about other safety interventions.

This helps us prioritise camera sites and make sure we put a camera in a high risk location where it works well with other interventions, on both state highways and local roads.

We engage with NZ Police while choosing sites.

NZ Police knowledge of high risk locations helps ensure that the safety camera complements plans for road policing in and around a camera location.

We work with iwi and hāpu on the location of cameras.

As part of our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi,we work with Māori to improve road safety for hapori (communities) and whānau.

We seek the support of iwi, hapū and hapori Māori on the placement of cameras and listen to their road safety aspirations and concerns in their rohe. That includes identifying  potential impacts on wāhi tapu (sacred places) and important places, like marae or urupā.

Māori and safety cameras

We visit the site to confirm there’s room on the roadside and infrastructure (power and internet connections) to put in a safety camera.

This helps us understand if we can operate a safety camera at that location, without introducing additional safety risks.

We run a speed survey to collect baseline speed data for spot speed, average speed and red light/speed safety cameras.

This helps us verify that speeding is an issue in the locations identified in our modelling.

We visit sites again, with safe system designers like engineers, power companies and traffic management plan providers.

This helps us get ready for site design and construction.