New Zealand police are rolling out a new fleet of unmarked patrol cars in an attempt to reduce harmful driving.
In a statement, police said people were still dying on New Zealand roads and law enforcement officials wanted to reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by crashes.
Acting national manager for road policing, Inspector Peter McKennie, said unmarked vehicles were particularly effective in detecting high-risk behaviours, including driving while not wearing seatbelts, driving while impaired, driving distracted and speeding.
"We know that speed has the biggest impact on the outcome of a crash – whether you walk away, or are carried away. That is why we unapologetically continue to focus on stopping people speeding on the roads," he said.
Over the next three months there will be 24 unmarked Holden Equinox vehicles patrolling the roads throughout the country.
The vehicles will be in different colours, aimed to blend in with the general traffic.
"Too many people are losing their lives, and the unmarked vehicles will encourage people to think twice about engaging in risky driving behaviour," Mr McKennie said.
"We want motorists to be conscious about driving safely at all times, expecting there to be a police presence on the roads, anytime, anywhere.
"The vast majority of road users simply want to get through their journeys safely. These vehicles increase our ability to ensure that by enabling police to more effectively deter, detect and apprehend those who put people’s safety at risk, including those who habitually drive in an unsafe manner but modify their driving in the presence of marked police vehicles."
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