Cape Town - An average speed-over-distance camera system will go up on Nelson Mandela Boulevard this month, the city says.
It’s the latest attempt to curb speeding on the busy road which connects Cape Town to the southern suburbs.
Mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith said the installation was approved by the city’s camera review committee after it was concluded that it would be the best measure to address speeding along the road. The cameras would become operational later this month, he added.
“They will measure the average 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 lanes. The first set will be positioned on the footbridge over Nelson Mandela Boulevard near District Six.
The second set will be on the Main Road bridge over Settler’s Way, and the final set on the footbridge at Mostert’s Mill on the M3.
“What this means is that a motorist travelling to or from the CBD on the M3 will be monitored between the UCT footbridge and the footbridge over Nelson Mandela Boulevard, just before Strand Street.”
“The same would apply to a motorist travelling in or out of the N2, from the Main Road bridge,” Smith said
“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 a greater compliance with the law.”
A similar system was introduced on the M5 between the Kromboom Road and Ottery Road bridges a few years ago.
“On that stretch of road, the system has generated more than 14 500 fines since August 2012,” Smith said.
“Speeding continues to be one of the top causes of collisions and fatalities, but as the adage goes “ hoor is min”, and we continue to record thousands of speeding offences.”
Smith said city traffic services recorded 113 000 speeding offences in August.
“Little wonder then that we have to resort to such extraordinary measures to try to safeguard the law-abiding members of the public from those for whom it’s all just a game.”
Cape Argus