Fake speed radars used to fool motorists

Old police speed radars are being used to fool speeding motorists using radar detectors into slowing down.

The radars, renamed drones and each worth $150, emit a beam which activates the radar detectors in cars, fooling motorists into thinking they are entering a monitored speed zone and slowing them down.

They are being used by the police, councils and the Transport Agency.

The New Zealand Herald reported the drones were being supplied by the Accident Compensation Corporation to local authorities and the Transport Agency which installed and operated them.

ACC said it had distributed about 70 drones at a cost of $10,000 and said they had reduced the speed of motorists.

The old radars have been mounted on power poles at up to 70 sites around the country nationally and some had been bought by school bus companies to slow motorists around schools.

Officials believed one in 10 motorists had radar detectors.

Last year ACC said claims relating to speed were worth at least $81 million.

Radar detectors were banned in Australia and in Wellington an office spokesman for transport minister Steven Joyce's office said he was still awaiting advice from officials on a proposed detector ban in New Zealand.

- NZPA

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Eve   #6   08:38 am Feb 09 2010

Why ban the speed detectors in cars? They seem to be doing their job. I don't think it's people's safety at the heart of the so called speed campaign, but more a case of the govt going to loose a potential income of $81m dollars from speeding motorists.

Marcus   #5   07:59 am Feb 09 2010

The other 9 out of 10 drivers are just going to be zipping along on their merry way. It isn't fooling anyone but the morons who think up these ideas

sebmund   #4   07:58 am Feb 09 2010

Why are you reporting on a successful police measure that requires fooling speeding motorists? Awareness of this fact will no doubt lead to some speeders taking there chances.

Shane   #3   07:58 am Feb 09 2010

So it's okay to lie and cheat to catch speeders but it's not okay to lie and cheat paying fines.

Double standards if you ask me.

Paul   #2   07:54 am Feb 09 2010

Why are you telling people? Thats not the smartest Idea.

FC_Shaza   #1   07:54 am Feb 09 2010

Good idea, anything to slow people down, now we just need something to speed up the old folk and sunday drivers (espec when its not sunday)

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