Cops not amused by speed-trap website
5 January 2008, 12:38
By Fiona Gounden
Traffic authorities have warned the owners of a website against "poking fun" at the speed-trapping cameras in and around Durban.
People have painted cameras bright colours and placed gnomes and cartoon characters on these cameras in central Durban, along the N2 southbound as well as in certain areas in Pietermaritzburg and then taken photos and posted them on the site, www.speedstraps.co.za
Also on the website are pictures taken by motorists exposing the extraordinary measures the traffic police can take to disguise speed cameras.
Like the one in Durban hidden in a dustbin with a hole cut in the front for the lens. And another in Pretoria cunningly hidden behind a lamppost-mounted council poster, again with a hole for the lens.
Others show the extraordinary steps some traffic police take to camouflage themselves while manning camera traps; including hiding behind bushes and in roadside culverts.
The site also gives details on the location of speed cameras, with information regularly updated. Hundreds of motorists also send out warnings about the frequent spots that are targeted as speed-trapping sites by traffic officers.
A typical warning reads: "A new spot is on the Essex Terrace pedestrian bridge over the M13 east bound (Durban) near the MBA building. This is an 80km/h zone. The camera is not easily noticeable."
Another speed trap alert says: "There is a trap at the M19 split as you come in from either the N3 from the Pavilion or M19 from Westville into Pinetown. These jerks have erected a permanent camera in the 80km zone as the two roads meet, and this puppy is a double header servicing both roads."
The website, in partnership with Road Angel, a GPS device, gives the location of more than 3 000 speed traps all over South Africa, so that motorists can slow down in advance.
Angry Durban metro police and the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) say speed is a serious issue that can result in death.
Durban metro police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Thozamile Tyala said: "We cannot entertain motorists who treat the traffic cameras as a joke. Speed is one of the main causes of fatalities and serious collisions on our roads.
"We won't stand for people making fun of the speed cameras. This is not the first time the website has made fun of them."
RTI spokesperson Rajen Chinaboo said he strongly discouraged people from making fun of the cameras as this would encourage motorists to disregard the law.
But Kevin van Huyssteen, the website owner and a practising attorney, said police needed to lighten up.
"We are sorry if the cops have such a deficient sense of humour. They do trap by stealth. They should be ashamed of their behaviour. Visible policing is by far the most effective way to reduce speeding."
Van Huyssteen said traffic authorities needed to admit that speed trapping was purely a money-making scheme.
"Trapping by stealth is purely for revenue collection purposes, not for road safety."
Traffic authorities have warned the owners of a website against "poking fun" at the speed-trapping cameras in and around Durban.
People have painted cameras bright colours and placed gnomes and cartoon characters on these cameras in central Durban, along the N2 southbound as well as in certain areas in Pietermaritzburg and then taken photos and posted them on the site, www.speedstraps.co.za
Also on the website are pictures taken by motorists exposing the extraordinary measures the traffic police can take to disguise speed cameras.
Like the one in Durban hidden in a dustbin with a hole cut in the front for the lens. And another in Pretoria cunningly hidden behind a lamppost-mounted council poster, again with a hole for the lens.
Others show the extraordinary steps some traffic police take to camouflage themselves while manning camera traps; including hiding behind bushes and in roadside culverts.
The site also gives details on the location of speed cameras, with information regularly updated. Hundreds of motorists also send out warnings about the frequent spots that are targeted as speed-trapping sites by traffic officers.
A typical warning reads: "A new spot is on the Essex Terrace pedestrian bridge over the M13 east bound (Durban) near the MBA building. This is an 80km/h zone. The camera is not easily noticeable."
Another speed trap alert says: "There is a trap at the M19 split as you come in from either the N3 from the Pavilion or M19 from Westville into Pinetown. These jerks have erected a permanent camera in the 80km zone as the two roads meet, and this puppy is a double header servicing both roads."
The website, in partnership with Road Angel, a GPS device, gives the location of more than 3 000 speed traps all over South Africa, so that motorists can slow down in advance.
Angry Durban metro police and the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) say speed is a serious issue that can result in death.
Durban metro police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Thozamile Tyala said: "We cannot entertain motorists who treat the traffic cameras as a joke. Speed is one of the main causes of fatalities and serious collisions on our roads.
"We won't stand for people making fun of the speed cameras. This is not the first time the website has made fun of them."
RTI spokesperson Rajen Chinaboo said he strongly discouraged people from making fun of the cameras as this would encourage motorists to disregard the law.
But Kevin van Huyssteen, the website owner and a practising attorney, said police needed to lighten up.
"We are sorry if the cops have such a deficient sense of humour. They do trap by stealth. They should be ashamed of their behaviour. Visible policing is by far the most effective way to reduce speeding."
Van Huyssteen said traffic authorities needed to admit that speed trapping was purely a money-making scheme.
"Trapping by stealth is purely for revenue collection purposes, not for road safety."
- This article was originally published on page 6 of The Star on January 05, 2008
Johannesburg
