The AA is calling on Police to be highly visible in their enforcing of the lower speeding tolerance and to focus on areas of highest risk.

It was announced today that the lower 4kph speed-limit tolerance, which has previously only applied over holiday periods, will be in place for all of December and January.

"If the lower speed tolerance results in a big increase in speeding tickets then that will actually be a failure. The measure of success has to be to stop drivers speeding and not how many tickets get issued," says AA spokesperson Dylan Thomsen.

Extending the lower speed tolerance for two months is a big change and it needs drivers to support it to be successful.

For the extended lower tolerance to get the best results the AA believes that:

• Police should target enforcement at high risk areas rather than on motorways or around passing lanes.
• The enforcement should be as obvious as possible, with speed cameras and officers clearly visible as high police visibility calms traffic and reduces speeding.

The AA again makes its call for the fines from speeding tickets to be used to fund road safety improvements. This is supported by 93% of AA Members.

For more information contact:

Dylan Thomsen
Senior Communications Adviser
New Zealand Automobile Association
T. 04 931 9991
M. 027 703 9935
E. dthomsen@aa.co.nz