Police, bus boss react to red light runners | Auckland Opinion | Local Voices from Auckland, New Zealand

Last week's photos of Auckland bus drivers blatantly running red lights - and endangering the lives of pedestrians - has provoked plenty of feedback via your letters, email, comments online and around the water cooler.

But there's talk going on at the bus companies with the drivers concerned, after we photographed five incidents, in less than two hours, of buses deliberately running red lights at the Albert St/Wyndham St intersection. (If you missed it, it's online at theaucklander.co.nz.)

Shane McMahon, chief operating officer for NZ Bus, told The Aucklander after seeing our story that his company (which owns the GoWest, NorthStar and Metrolink snapped breaking the law) began an investigation to identify the drivers in the photos. "Safety is our first priority and all complaints of this nature are taken very seriously and fully investigated," Mr McMahon said.

He said drivers who break the law are disciplined as part of the company's formal disciplinary process. He was not able to say what would action would be taken against the drivers pictured in our photos.

"The outcome of any disciplinary action will remain a private matter between the company and the employee," he said.

Mr McMahon said the company provides a high level of training for drivers and continually assesses them to make sure safety practices are adhered to.

The Aucklander did not receive a response from Ritchies, the other bus company whose drivers broke the law.

Inspector Gavin Macdonald, Auckland City road policing manager, says the pictures revealed a level of risk to passengers and pedestrians that was unacceptable.

"We have a real problem with buses running red lights at intersections. We have met with the bus companies over it and they are investigating as well. We were already doing that before this. We want to know why they do it.

"These people are professional drivers. It shouldn't be happening."

He said it wasn't just bus drivers but obviously the risk was greater for pedestrians when it was. There were six pedestrian deaths in Auckland last year.

Inspector Macdonald said bus companies do treat the law-breaking very seriously. Operation Focus has police working with Auckland Transport to do something about this issue.

"Most red light running is simply impatience. Drivers need to realise that if you are in the central city, things are going to take a bit longer.

"You can't expect warp factor nine to operate around town. Be patient."

He said a number of infringement notices had also been issued to be people who run the amber. "People should read their road code; it says if it's safe to stop on the amber, you must."

He said he has been tasked with dealing with the issue of red light running in the city and is happy to hear from anyone who has witnessed it.

"Give me as much information as possible. Time, place, try and get the rego of the bus, or bus number, colour of bus, bus company. Then just email me and I'll follow it up."

He said people can also call *555 with information.

"The big problem in Auckland city is that the unacceptable behaviour of running a red light has become acceptable among motorists and that has to stop."

Couldn't agree more, Inspector.

SEE A RED LIGHT RUNNER?
Email Inspector Macdonald about red light runners: gavin.macdonald@police.govt.nz
or call *555