More mini-radar tests

Press, 9 February 1982, Page 5

More mini-radar tests

PA Tauranga More testing will be required before the Government considers buying a miniaturised radar device, used extensively abroad, which detects and photographs speeding vehicles, the Minister of Transport (Mr Gair) has told a Tauranga importer. Mr John Roake imported an example of the $35,000 miniature computerised photo-exposure radar late last year after seeing it working in Europe. He was impressed with the effect the radar had on traffic safety. In the 40 countries where it was already used it had helped reduce accident rates. Mr Roake said. The radar, which can be mounted on a car or static object, scans across traffic ; and photographs any vehicles ' exceeding the speed limit. It

can monitor speeds up to 200 km h and cannot be detected by existing radar detectors. At the same time as it photographs a speeding vehicle the radar records the time of day. date and whereabouts of the offence. Since it did not require g operators the radar made long-term control possible. Mr Roake said

The model he imported has already been tested by the Auckland Harbour Bridge Authority, and is undergoing tests in Wellington at the Ministry of Transport’s traffic engineering section.

Mr Gair said Ministry of Transport officials were’impressed with the radar's efficiency in selected traffic situations.

He believed it could be used for certain types of traffic control but not as a (

general aid to enforcement. Mr Gair also said specialist training would be required for the two operators necessary to work one of the radars, and certification of the unit as an adequate device would be complex