Auckland Transport has installed CCTV cameras in bus lanes on Queen Street, Hobson Street and Khyber Pass Road. The new cameras are in addition to CCTV monitoring enforcement already in place on Fanshawe Street.
John Strawbridge, Group Manager Parking Services and Compliance says the cameras have leading-edge, purpose-built analytics.
"They generate an alert so we don't need to have an enforcement officer set up on the street with a mobile camera. The CCTV footage is then reviewed by an experienced staff member who makes the decision about whether an infringement should be issued."
When CCTV was introduced on Fanshawe Street in July last year there was an initial jump in the number of infringements issued but now infringements are back to similar levels as before CCTV.
Roadside CCTV monitoring enables Auckland Transport to reduce misuse of bus lanes, freeing them up for buses and improving transport efficiency around the city, John Strawbridge says.
"A bus can move around 70 people, making them much more efficient than clogging the roads with cars.
"The lane on Fanshawe Street currently carries more than 5000 people during the morning peak hour, compared to approximately 1800 people in cars in the other two lanes."
The key benefits of using CCTV to remotely monitor bus lanes also include:
- Lanes can be monitored 24/7
- One officer can monitor multiple lanes
- Eliminating the health and safety risks for staff who would otherwise need to monitor from the roadside.
Bus lanes are for buses, motorcycles, scooters and cyclists. Other vehicles can enter the bus lane to turn left up to 50 metres before turning.
The infringement fee for driving illegally in a bus lane is $150, this fee is set by central government and not Auckland Transport.
For more on bus and transit lanes visit the Auckland Transport website. To read more about infringement reviews, head to the infringement page on the AT website.
