13 Aug 2015

NZTA staff caught speeding 8,000 times

9:49 am on 13 August 2015

The Transport Agency says data revealing its staff have been speeding in work cars - more than 8,000 times in the past nine months - is alarming.

Wellington's Ngauranga Gorge.

NZTA is charged with the promotion of road safety. Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson

Data from GPS units installed in NZTA vehicles recorded instances of them being driven faster than 110 kms/hr.

Agency chief executive Geoff Dangerfield said that was only a small proportion of the 1.7 million kms travelled by staff in that time.

But he said it was not being taken lightly and staff were being spoken to about it.

Mr Dangerfield told Morning Report the agency had identified about 50 staffers who had sped on numerous occasions.

"Every staff member that we've identified associated with any speeding, we've had a formal conversation with them.

"And we've outlined really clearly to our staff what the sanctions are for speeding in our vehicles."

NZTA is the government organisation in charge of promotion of road safety and its best known slogan is "speed kills".

It said the no one would be referred to police.

Transport minister Simon Bridges said in a statement it was disappointing the agency charged with road safety had in many cases not led by example.