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The sign says it all, at the start of a 71km stretch of the R61 between Beaufort West and Aberdeen. Picture: Jeffrey Abrahams
Average speed over distance cameras have resulted in a dramatic decrease in the number of deaths and speedsters on a notoriously dangerous stretch of road near Beaufort West, says the provincial transport department.
The cameras cover 71.6km on the R61/Aberdeen Road, where 150 people have died in the past 12 years.
Since the November 1 launch of the cameras - which pick up the size of vehicles and calculate the speed they should be adhering to - there have been only two deaths on this stretch; both people died when their bakkie rolled.
Transport MEC Robin Carlisle said preliminary figures showed that the number travelling at more than 130km/h had dropped by half.
There was also a significant decrease in those driving between 121km/h and 130km/h, he said.
Carlisle said his department was in the advanced stages of rolling out the cameras to five other locations on provincial roads. The N1 Kanniedood/ Laingsburg stretch, the N1 at Three Sisters, the N7, R27 and the N2 have been identified as possible locations.
Between November 1 and December 31, 836 speeding offences were recorded on the Beaufort West stretch.
Of those, 42 were heavy motor vehicles, 27 buses and eight multipurpose vehicles. Minibus taxis made up more than half of the total with 495 speeding fines, followed by light motor vehicles, with 235.
Carlisle said that while taxis accounted for the bulk of offences, public transport made up a large portion of traffic on the route.
Over the same period, eight drivers were arrested for speeding. Six were in light motor vehicles, one was a bus driver and one was a taxi driver.
The highest recorded speed was 184km/h, said Carlisle.
He said attention was given to roadworthiness and the validity of operator and driver licences, among other offences.
Meanwhile, speeding offences on the M5 - where cameras are installed - steadily increased, quadrupling at its peak.
In October, 843 speedsters were nabbed by the cameras. The cameras are between the Kromboom and Wetton Road bridges in both directions.
Most of the speeding offences were recorded in the northbound lane where 4619 were recorded between January and November 2011. There were 1191 in the southbound lane.
The average number of speeding vehicles in the northbound lane remained steady at between 200 and 350 a month until June.
The upswing began in July with 607, 540 in August, 563 in September, 843 in October and 475 in November.
In the southbound lane the figures ranged from 21 to 57. But increases were also recorded from July with a sudden dip in November.
In July the violations jumped to 139, followed by 171 in August, 308 in September, 262 in October and 97 in November.
The highest speed last year, 184km/h in the 100km/h zone, was recorded in January in the northbound lane.
Marius Van Tonder, Cape Town traffic’s joint ventures manager, said cameras would not be installed in other parts of the city in the immediate future. The next phase would be put out for tender early in 2012, he said. - Cape Argus
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Ben, wrote
Most deaths on the road are not caused by speeding. Are they trying to reduce deaths or increase income?
Anonymous, wrote
When are they going to start enforcing the first rule of the roads!?! Keep Left, Pass Right! imagine how much better traffic would be! People's attitudes wouldn't be bent on frustration and anger. If they're gonna install these Ave Speed Cams all over the place, they should get them to monitor and fine peeps that block traffic by taking a stroll in the fast lane. eg if the speed limit is 120kmh and you're doing less than 110kmh then WHABAM!!! $1 000 000,00 Please!
Apollo19, wrote
How do you think the 50% of pedestrians are killed? They`re hit by speeding drivers of course. Alcohol abuse, speeding and overtaking on a solid white line are the big killer moves on the roads here. Stop it now, for heaven`s sake. Duh!
Rikus, wrote
bruce, wrote
What a crock.....just getting closer to being a police state. Watching our every move...big brother here we come.
Anonymous, wrote
WShere exactly does the money go collected from these thousands of fines?? How much is it per year?
KosieDips, wrote
Mr Carlisle, I challenge you to engage with me on the issues of road safety, traffic authorities need a complete mind shift on road safety
Thurston Manuel, wrote
So how is this camera helping the situation? A person still dies once per month as harsh as it may sound it is a good statistic, now with the stats still remaining the same the only difference is the R418,000.00
fred, wrote
The usual bullshit attempt to try to justify speeding fines. Bottom line If you teach people to drive properly and with consideration you wouldn't have half the accidents.
jason, wrote
@Zuurmond: Completely agree with you. If 50% of deaths are pedestrians 50% of the preventative measures should be against pedestrians. Must say that this average speed thing does work very well.
Praggia, wrote
Everyone is so negative. This is a good thing I travel on this road frequently and the stretch between Bwest and Laingsburg. I never exceed 120kmh unless i have to overtake a big truck which sometimes travel at speeds of more than 80kmh. I drive a company vehicle and any fines incurred I am liable for. Irresponsible impatient drivers are what cause accidents as well as excessive speed. Adhere to the limit and if you don't and are caught its best you face the music. Also I hope they introduce heavier fines and punishment. I'm all for it
Anonymous, wrote
Does this now constitute proof that an average reduction in speed does NOT decrease the incidence of death on that portion of roadway?
Top Geariac, wrote
@ Maths - Good point. Butb then again if you think very carefully there is away around this if it only catches you on average speed. Im not telling though
Unis Zuurmond, wrote
I am so sick and tired of this speed thing. Yes, I believe that high speed increases the risk of an accident, including fatality. But my problem is that the same effort does not go into the other causes of accidents. For example, if more than 50% of road deaths in SA are pedestrians, do we get more than 50% of our fines from pedestrians? If not, then no matter how much they spin it, I will not believe any effort they make is towards road safety, but rather to pocket money. Nuff said.
Marcel, wrote
@Maths Haha, well picked up. I guess basic calculus is not a prerequisite for Government employees (except of course when it come to counting the money they get for NOT doing anything)
Maths, wrote
"where 150 people have died in the past 12 years" that is an ave of ROUGHLY 1 death per month. "Since the November 1 launch of the cameras - which pick up the size of vehicles and calculate the speed they should be adhering to - there have been only two deaths on this stretch; both people died when their bakkie rolled." So two deaths in two months again? I see no decrease, it still stays ave 1 month...
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