Thursday, February 19, 2015

Speeding

Just got a speeding fine. I was doing 45 kmph assuming I was in a 50 kmph zone. We were on holiday driving a rental on a road unfamiliar to me, around the Queen Charlotte Sounds. I was taking it easy enjoying the views and pulling over to let others pass when necessary.

Who knew 30 kmph speed limits existed except for roadworks? But in a little place called Ngakuta Bay one does.

My fault for not keeping my eyes peeled for speed restrictions. But what a great place to put a speed camera.

At $80 a pop, it must be very lucrative.

(After consulting a map I sent an email to husband to say, sorry, yes, it was me - we'ed been sharing the driving. His response was, " It doesn't matter.  The whole thing is underhand with speed limits that aren't well sign-posted and systems designed to financially exploit the situation.  Fining us for going too fast in an area we aren't likely to return to any time soon and giving us the message well after we were there doesn't improve road safety as the accident statistics show. ")
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10 comments:

Mark Hubbard said...

Damn I live up there for six months (if we weren't in Geraldine now, I'd say call in for a cuppa), and I don't think I've driven at 30 anywhere :(

Have a great break, Lindsay.

8:38 AM
Jamie said...

Sounds like a textbook case of what's called a tourist trap

10:34 AM
Anonymous said...

You must be mindful that the blurb says (or used to) they only put the cameras where there's a history of speed related accidents. I got done in Sanson many years ago and upon enquiring was advised they had no stats at all for accidents at that location. Stinking liars.

3:16

3:09 PM
S. Beast said...

FYI there are also 30km zones in the center of Island Bay, and sections of inner city Wellington.

The Island Bay one was pointed out to me as I drove through b/c easiest sign to see is the 30Km circle painted on the road. It lasts for around 100 - 200 meters of road max. Another pointless exercise which is more likely to cause a nose to tail than anything else. More pointless bureaucracy.

10:36 PM
Jamie said...

Lullz...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/71066038/nz-transport-agency-staff-caught-speeding-in-work-cars

Can you say Mug

7:26 PM
Anonymous said...

Hi Lindsay,
Just got a speeding ticket for exactly the same reason. I don't recall seeing the 30 Kph speed limit sign anywhere and thought I was going slow at 41 kph in a 50 Kph Zone. However I now note, looking on the Malborough Council Web site, that the 30 Kph limit only applies between the 20th December and the 31st January each year. So its $80 fine to do 41 Kph on the 31st January, but zero fine to do the same speed on the 1st February.
Regards
Bruce

8:34 PM
Lindsay Mitchell said...

Talk about rubbing salt into the wound... Thanks Bruce. How come you noticed this post almost a year later?

8:48 PM
Anonymous said...

Hi Linsay,
Your blog came up when I started doing some Google searches on when and how the speed limit had changed at Ngakuta Bay.
Regards
Bruce

3:19 PM
Anonymous said...

Hi Lindsay,

we recently got a 170 NZD fine for driving 51 km/h at exactly the same spot this January. Seems like a real tourist rip-off :-( I was the co-driver and noticed the 30 sign at an extremely short supposed construction site where no construction was taking place at all... I also got a speeding ticket myself on the North Island, most-likely while overtaking a slower car on a straight road. Apparently it is very easy to get a speeding ticket in NZ. Tourists must be a very lucrative clientele for the NZ police.

1:20 AM
Lindsay Mitchell said...

Can I apologise on behalf of all those New Zealanders who would agree with you. It's a rort. At least you were only subject to it for the time of your stay:-)

4:05 PM

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