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The Western Cape transport department has just spent R6.5-million on a new speed-over-distance camera system on the straight-stretched R27 West Coast road. Just another money-making scheme?
If you’re planning on taking a leisurely drive due north out of Cape Town, it probably won’t be as enjoyable as it used to be. Drivers will have to keep their eyes on their car’s speedometer instead of enjoying the scenic view.
TACKLING ROAD DEATHS
Provincial transport and public works minister Robin Carlisle announced Phase 3 of the "average speed over distance" camera network on the R27 along the West Coast. (Does that make SOD's law? - Ed)
Phase 1 was implemented in October 2011 on a 72km stretch of road between Beaufort West and Aberdeen (R61) for which we can only ask why on this bleek stretch of road to nowhere. In December 2012 came Phase 2 on 32km between Three Sisters to Beaufort West and Laingsburg.
Carlisle says the project has seen a decrease in the number of deaths and drivers arrested for doing excessively high speeds since the implementation of these systems.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The system calculates the average speed of a vehicle between two cameras. If it's more than the limit, you’ll likely be pulled over in a roadblock .
Carlisle said: “We are proud to add another weapon to our law enforcement arsenal. The R27 phase will extend coverage to 160.5km of provincial roads. Carlisle added the road death toll had decreased from 86 in 2011 to 38 in 2012 and 21 so far in 2013.
"We have achieved the fastest and most significant road-death reduction in the world, 28% since 2009. However, we will do more to ensure that we reach our target of halving fatalities by December 2014."
He added: “Our goal was never to make money from fines. Our primary concern has always been to ensure that people will arrive safely at their destination, particularly when travelling long-distance.”
Carlisle said more SOD cameras would be also installed along the N1 and N2 of the Western Cape.
"The province has 20 000km of roads that need effective enforcement. A major challenge has been drivers' ill-discipline. At the end of 2012 enforcement statistics showed vehicles driving below the speed limit of 120km/h had risen from 61% to 74% and those driving over the speed limit had gone down from 39% to 26%. This trend has continued.”
If you’re planning on taking a leisurely drive due north out of Cape Town, it probably won’t be as enjoyable as it used to be. Drivers will have to keep their eyes on their car’s speedometer instead of enjoying the scenic view.
TACKLING ROAD DEATHS
Provincial transport and public works minister Robin Carlisle announced Phase 3 of the "average speed over distance" camera network on the R27 along the West Coast. (Does that make SOD's law? - Ed)
Phase 1 was implemented in October 2011 on a 72km stretch of road between Beaufort West and Aberdeen (R61) for which we can only ask why on this bleek stretch of road to nowhere. In December 2012 came Phase 2 on 32km between Three Sisters to Beaufort West and Laingsburg.
Carlisle says the project has seen a decrease in the number of deaths and drivers arrested for doing excessively high speeds since the implementation of these systems.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The system calculates the average speed of a vehicle between two cameras. If it's more than the limit, you’ll likely be pulled over in a roadblock .
Carlisle said: “We are proud to add another weapon to our law enforcement arsenal. The R27 phase will extend coverage to 160.5km of provincial roads. Carlisle added the road death toll had decreased from 86 in 2011 to 38 in 2012 and 21 so far in 2013.
"We have achieved the fastest and most significant road-death reduction in the world, 28% since 2009. However, we will do more to ensure that we reach our target of halving fatalities by December 2014."
He added: “Our goal was never to make money from fines. Our primary concern has always been to ensure that people will arrive safely at their destination, particularly when travelling long-distance.”
Carlisle said more SOD cameras would be also installed along the N1 and N2 of the Western Cape.
"The province has 20 000km of roads that need effective enforcement. A major challenge has been drivers' ill-discipline. At the end of 2012 enforcement statistics showed vehicles driving below the speed limit of 120km/h had risen from 61% to 74% and those driving over the speed limit had gone down from 39% to 26%. This trend has continued.”
