AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL MEDIA RELEASE

1 March 2007

0800 Stop 4 Red to help combat red light runners

Auckland City Council today launched a safety awareness campaign, 0800 Stop 4 Red, asking people to report motorists who run red lights.

The month-long operation aims to stop the increasing number of motorists who flout road rules and risk the lives of pedestrians, cyclists and other road users by running red lights.

Motorists identified by registration number will be issued with a warning letter advising that they have been spotted running a red light and urging them to respect other road users. The process is based on a community road watch system used by New Zealand Police and no other action will be taken.

Last year, there were 176 red light crashes in Auckland city compared with 142 in 2005, more than a 20 per cent increase. Councillor Richard Simpson, the council's Transport and Urban Linkages Committee chairperson, says an ever increasing number of Auckland motorists prioritise time over the lives of their fellow citizens.

"Red light running is one of the leading causes of crashes in Auckland city. It's become common practice for drivers to speed up when they see an orange light," he says.

"Most people can recall a recent example of a near miss caused by a car, and often cars, rushing through the red. This campaign will give offenders a timely reminder that speeding through intersections will not be tolerated by the public, nor by Auckland City Council," says Mr Simpson.

"Auckland City Council is working hard to encourage more people to walk or cycle to travel about the city, but many people feel that they're putting their lives at risk. In fact, research shows that 41 per cent of pedestrians do not feel safe at intersections in the CBD.

"All our efforts to encourage sustainable travel will be pointless unless motorists start obeying basic road rules and considering other road users," says Mr Simpson.

The campaign involves radio advertising, fliers and placards and is supported by Accident Compensation Corporation, with endorsement from the New Zealand Police.

Inspector Heather Wells from Auckland Police says, "We're very hopeful that this campaign will make people think twice about beating a red light signal. This unsafe driving practice is a major concern, which appears to be getting worse across the city.

"The council's 0800 Stop 4 Red campaign is a timely awareness raising exercise before red light cameras are introduced in the CBD later this year."

Auckland City Council encourages motorists to park safely before phoning 0800 Stop 4 Red (0800 786 747). People can also report an incident online at www.stop4red.co.nz. Details required to log the incident include:

* registration details
* colour and make of the vehicle
* date and location of the incident.

ENDS

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