CITY OF CAPE TOWN 5 OCTOBER 2014 MEDIA RELEASE New cameras will keep speedsters in check A new average speed over distance camera system will go live in the coming weeks, to compel motorists to slow down on Nelson Mandela Boulevard. Read more below: The City of Cape Town has installed an average speed over distance (ASOD) system on Nelson Mandela Boulevard in its latest attempt to address speeding and promote road safety. The installation of the system was approved by the City’s Camera Review Committee as it was considered to be the best measure to address speeding along this particular road, which is suitable for ASOD deployment. The installation of these systems is provided for in the City’s contract with Syntell, thus there is no capital cost to the City. The cameras will become operational later this month and will measure the speed of all vehicles travelling inbound and outbound between the bottom of Nelson Mandela Boulevard and the N2 and M3. The system consists of three sets of cameras that will cover all of the incoming and outgoing lanes. The first set is on the footbridge over Nelson Mandela Boulevard in the vicinity of District Six; the second set is on the Main Road bridge over Settlers Way; and the third set is on the footbridge at Mostert’s Mill on the M3. ‘What this means is that a motorist traveling to or from the CBD along the M3 will be monitored between the UCT footbridge and the footbridge over Nelson Mandela Boulevard, just before the Strand Street off-ramp. The same would apply to a motorist traveling in or out on the N2, from the Main Road bridge. Too often, motorists travel at speeds in excess of the legal limit in this area and we hope that the introduction of the system will result in greater compliance with the law – in line with our commitment to create a safe city,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith. The ASOD system uses specialised cameras that accurately record each and every vehicle passing through their area. The cameras read the number plate of the vehicle and record the location, date and exact time. Another camera further along does exactly the same. The data and images of the vehicles are encrypted and transmitted to a computer. The two sets of data are then matched and, if the same vehicle passes both cameras, the time taken for the vehicle to cover the distance is calculated. A fine is generated for vehicles that travel the distance in a shorter time than that allowed by the speed limit. The City of Cape Town introduced a similar system on the M5 between the Kromboom Road and the Ottery Road bridges a few years ago. On that stretch of road, the system has generated just over 14 500 fines since August 2012. ‘Speeding continues to be one of the top causes of collisions and fatalities, but as the adage goes “hoor is min”, and we continue to record thousands of speeding offences. In August alone, Cape Town Traffic Services recorded 113 000 speeding offences. Little wonder then that we have to resort to such extraordinary measures to try and safeguard the law-abiding members of the public from those for whom it’s all just a game We appeal to residents to work with us by obeying the rules of the road and showing courtesy for their fellow road users,’ said Alderman Smith.
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 11:22:52 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015