Average speed camera confirmation

Average speed over distance cameras are coming for the N2 and M3 in Cape Town.

Traffic_camerasNMBoulevard

Oh, it’s nice to be right. And I was. Specifically in this case, I was right about those average speed cameras I told you about a couple of weeks ago. Here’s the confirmation on the City website.

‘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.

Ugh. The only person I’d rather not give our money to than Robin Carlisle is JP Smith. Ugh.

Anyway, it’s coming soon and whether or not you like JP Smith (no, you don’t), speeding is naughty and you will deservedly have to pay much money if you do it. So don’t.

The story on iol has generated some spectacular comments:

Terrible idea. Paying money as a fine does nothing but fund bonuses and end- of- year parties. I highly doubt that it funds road accident victims and their medical expenses (or funerals).

No, you’re thinking of the Road Accident Fund. That’s the one that funds road accident victims.
This cash goes towards other stuff:

The city collects about R150m a year from fines. Mr Smith said the money went to the city’s general budget and was used for service delivery, including housing, water and electricity.

And this guy, calling himself ‘Captain Sensible’, who hasn’t quite worked out the “average speed” bit of the whole thing:

Average speed cameras are a joke. The idiots who speed for the thrill of it will hoema along from the first one at mach 2, then slow down, and piddle through the second at 30km/h, thus rendering the concept pointless.

Well done.

The route in and out of town consists of tempting downhills each way, and this is going to be a licence to print money for the council. But how much? Here’s a helpful guide to spot fines for speeding in the Western Cape:

14708

  • NRTA 93/1996
  • Sect 59(4)(b) r/w: Exceeding speed limit of 80 km/h indicated by Road Sign.
SpeedFine
91 – 94R200.00
95 – 99R400.00
100 – 104R600.00
105 – 109R800.00
110 – 114R1 000.00
115 – 119R1 200.00
120 – 124R1 400.00
125+No AG

“No AG” means a mandatory court appearance. And quite right too.

Let’s hope that it does help to slow people down and that the fines (when actually collected) are used to make a positive difference – although I’d like that to be directed more towards the traffic department.

7 thoughts on “Average speed camera confirmation

  1. I was having a pint with “Captain Sensible” yesterday.
    I’ll send him your regards..

  2. Bloubergman > Given that ‘Captain’ is his name, his saying ‘Captain’ must have been a confusing incident for all concerned.

  3. Biobot > Technically, you should be going at 80, tops. But factoring the error for your speedometer and the speed camera, neither of which can be assumed to be completely accurate, I think they have to give you +/- 10% leeway.

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