AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL

15 March 2007

Public condemns red light runners

Aucklanders are taking a strong stance against red light runners, with more than 1,000 reports logged halfway through Auckland City Council’s 0800 Stop 4 Red campaign. The council is running a month-long awareness campaign asking people to report incidents of red light running before red light cameras are introduced in Auckland’s CBD later this year.

Two weeks into the campaign, at noon today, a total of 1138 complaints had been received, with 609 calls to the 0800 Stop 4 Red (0800 786 747) hot line and 529 reports to the www.stop4red.co.nz website. According to the reports logged so far, Queen Street is a red light running hot spot, with 90 red light running complaints (approximately 9 per cent of all incidents) occurring on Auckland city’s main street.

Additionally, 53 buses and 23 taxis have been reported across the city. Councillor Richard Simpson, Transport and Urban Linkages Committee chairperson, says he is pleased that Aucklanders are keen to help the council improve road safety across the city. “People clearly support our bid to make running red lights as socially unacceptable as drink driving. We’ve been flooded with reports and they keep coming in,” says Mr Simpson.

“We’re committed to making it safer for pedestrians, cyclists and other road users to get around and we appreciate the positive response we’ve had from the public towards the campaign. “I believe that part of the campaign’s success is its simplicity. All we need is the registration and colour of the vehicle and the location and date of the incident.” Motorists are reminded to use the phone line when they are safely parked. All people who are reported 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. When the campaign finishes on 31 March, details of repeat offenders will be forwarded to the police. The council will liaise with businesses whose commercial vehicles have been identified repeatedly running red lights. “Our message to Aucklanders is to keep those reports coming in. Now is your chance to make a difference to road safety across the city,” says Mr Simpson.

ENDS

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