Figures reveal that New Zealand motorists are being captured by speeding cameras more than ever. 

Last year, static speed cameras caught more than 611,000 cars going too fast. That led to close to $55 million worth of fines being released, according to figures obtained by RNZ. 

That figure is three times as much as in 2017, and 20 times more than in 2013.

Automobile Association’s Mike Noon told Larry Williams that there are concerns that the cameras are not doing their job properly. 

"Our concern is that sometimes putting a camera doesn't get everyone to slow down. We've seen some cameras, such as the one in Kamo, issue $4.8 million worth of tickets in a year, and that's just a disaster." 

That camera in Kamo was the highest earning camera in the country last year.

He says that it indicates that the road environment there does not explain the speed limit. Noon says that if cameras are capturing people, that shows a failure in the speed limit in the area. 

"If you have one camera issuing $5 million in tickets in 12 months, it's pointless." 

Noon thinks that other methods should be considered, such as warning signs that reinforce people should go slower. 

"If you put the signs up and people speed, I have no sympathy at all." 

However, Noon says that the AA supports speed cameras in principle as they want people to slow down.

"We get consulted and we help make that choice about where they should be put."

The number of tickets issued by police officers has dropped 29 per cent over the last decade. That drop has been attributed to low police staffing numbers. 

Noon says that there are concerns that there is a limited presence by police.

"We know absolutely that if police are out there, there is a calming effect and those people who might be inclined towards breaking the rules won't."