Cape Town drivers, watch out for new speed cameras
As speeding continues to be one of the top causes of collisions and fatalities, 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.
WHY?
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.
WHEN AND HOW?
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.
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.
‘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.