KEEPING WATCH: Traffic police will "live in the street'' of some of Nelson's poorest areas, says Sergeant John Maxwell.

Police are promising to "live in the street" of some of Nelson's poorest areas in a new experimental operation aimed at educating and changing the behaviour of drivers from the most deprived neighbourhoods.

Nelson Bays police strategic road unit manager Sergeant John Maxwell said people who lived in areas of high deprivation were over represented in crash statistics in the Nelson region.

Mr Maxwell said under "Operation Assist" traffic police were promising to "live in" some streets and through a series of random patrols eventually stop every car driven in that area.

He said police would be checking to make sure drivers had a current licence or were complying with the conditions of the licence they had.

Vehicles would also be checked to make sure they were up to standard.

The pilot programme was believed to be the first of its kind in New Zealand, he said.

Under the multi-agency run operation, which includes staff from the district health board, people had the choice of being given a ticket or taking part in the Street Wise driver improvement programme.

The programme is run in conjunction with Nelson City Council and other community groups and includes modules on consequences and alcohol and drugs.

Those with a driver's licence have to do a $170 defensive driving course at their own expense.

Those caught without a licence were directed to attend a course to help them sit their licence. Participants have to pay the cost of getting a licence themselves.

Disqualified drivers would be charged and go to court.

Mr Maxwell said there were 1100 people in the Nelson bays living in areas considered to be of high deprivation, and of those 500 lived in Stoke East.

Police had already run several operations in that area, he said.

"I believe for some people the fear of getting a ticket does have an impact on their behaviour when behind the wheel.

"The challenge for police is to find innovative ways to change people's behaviour."

Mr Maxwell said he expected some people would criticise police for "targeting poor people", but the operation wanted to help them become safer and more law abiding drivers.

"We are not picking on people. It's trying to keep people safe and give them the motivation to get licensed and to undertake the work they need to get their cars to a warrantable standard."

Operation Assist started in November and since then 13 people had been referred to the Street Wise programme for a variety of offences including breaching their learner licence conditions, having an expired licence and defects to their car.

One person picked up recently had been riding a moped for two years without a licence, he said.

People generally preferred to spend $180 to get their licence or do a defensive driving course than pay what could be a $400 ticket.

"I say this to people, I can give you a ticket for $400. If you pay that you still have to go and get licensed and be in a vicious cycle of never being able to find a way out."

Those referred to the course would be followed up, and made to pay the ticket they would have faced if they failed to complete the course. It was up to the individual to take the steps to finish the programme.

"It's that philosophy of teaching a man to fish.

"For me education is a step to changing behaviour and it needs to be done for the long term."

Mr Maxwell said police and partner agencies were also running another successful programme dubbed Operation Road Safe aimed at educating another group of at risk road-users, scooter and motorcycle riders.

As the cost of fuel increased there were more scooters on the road and many of those drivers were in the at risk age group of 15 to 24, he said.

The operation hoped to educate young riders, but was aimed at motorcyclists and scooter riders of all ages.

Using a similar method to Operation Assist police give motorcyclists and scooter riders the option to avoid a ticket if they complete a training programme in a reasonable time frame.

Since it began in early July, 40 people had been offered the chance to take part in the rider training programme, and 20 of those had done the course as required.

Eight people could not be bothered to do the course and the remainder were yet to do it.

Mr Maxwell said the operations dovetailed nicely with the current police focus on prevention.

The success of the operation would be gauged by going through the names of people stopped in the operation every six months to see if they were included in crashes or driving complaints.