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In it's submission "Safer Journeys conversation paper" (Nov 2012) the AA conditionally supported automated speed enforcement provided amongst other caveats that "speed cameras are located based on risk rather than at fishing holes where the speed limit does not self explain"

Has the AA had any feedback from any organisations that operate speed cameras or the Government that could legislate rules for such organisations on this matter?

The location of speed cameras is determined by police operational policy. Their policy is that fixed speed cameras are placed in locations assessed as being at high risk of speed-related crashes. Mobile camera vans are located under the "anywhere anytime" philosophy but the police website states that these are also deployed at key crash risk sites.

The AA supports the use of fixed and mobile speed cameras as they are an internationally proven crash reduction tool. But we also want all fixed speed cameras to be preceded by a warning sign, and for all mobile camera vans to be visible (e.g. not hidden behind trees) and clearly marked.

There is more information about Police’s Speed Camera Programme on their website.

So the government was insufficiently impressed with the AA's submission to legislate any controls on speed camera operators and the Police ignored the AA too. The AA must be disappointed.

Are the speed monitoring marked Police Cars I saw in EVERY passing lane on my trip through the Waikato operating in opposition to the Police website's statement ie; other than key crash risk sites?

The police procedures are consistent with the AA's policies in our submission - that speed cameras are located in areas of high crash risk. It depends what roads you were driving on. Just because it has passing lanes doesn't mean it isn't high risk. The Waikato has quite a large number of high-risk and medium-risk roads so the police cars may have been enforcing speeds on those roads. You can review the risk-ratings of State Highways in the Waikato here.

Thanks for clarifying that. Although it certainly appears that "Anytime Anywhere" is at odds with the submission.

Is the AA satisfied that enforcement authorities agree in principal and in practice to the AA's other Automated Speed Enforcement caveats? i.e.;
* Speed cameras are not located where the "speed limit does not self explain"
* Police resources thereby freed up are used to focus on intelligence based policing linked to high risk drivers.

Thanks again,
Paul

By and large we think speed cameras are located where there is a crash risk, but if the speed is not self-explaining then it may be appropriate to use cameras (although they should be signed) until such time that the road can be re-engineered to better explain the speed. For fixed speed cameras the AA has to be consulted on their locations so we are able to vett their appropriateness. But our submission comments only apply to speed cameras, not speed enforcement by officers in patrol cars as you observed. However AA Member surveys show 68% of members oppose police enforcing speeds at the end of passing lanes.