Roadblock and speed trap warnings
Over the festive season traffic departments across the country were out in full force to catch drunk drivers and speedsters. Numerous road blocks and speed traps were set up, netting thousands of offenders.
In Johannesburg 588 drivers were arrested for traffic offences including drunken driving and speeding during the festive season, and Johannesburg metro police Senior Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said road blocks and high speed operations would continue in the region.
According to the Department of Transport thousands of motorists had been fined and/or arrested over the Christmas weekend as part of the Festive Season Arrive Alive Road Safety Campaign.
Technology used to avoid road blocks and speed traps
Many consumers have now turned to technology to avoid being caught at either a roadblock or speed trap.
A service called SMSRadar has become popular with motorists who are keen to be informed about roadblocks and speed traps in their area. “SMS RADAR allows drivers to warn each other about things happening on the roads. Once you’ve joined a driving area you will get SMS alerts helping you avoid trouble on the roads you drive. These messages are sent from members looking out for each other. A good tip at the right time could save your bacon!” the SMSRadar website states.
SMS RADAR is a subscription service where users are charged R1.50 to receive tips – a cost which SMSRadar says covers their cost of messaging and moderating junk tips. The tips come from other SMSRadar users who send their information to the company. As an example, a recent SMSRadar message reads: “Camera with 3 film crew on Corlett in front of Wanderers stadium”, warning other users about a speed trap in their area.
Facebook and Twitter
Consumers are also using social networking tools, including Facebook and Twitter, to stay abreast of road blocks and speed traps. Twitter is already used extensively to share traffic information (see http://twitter.com/akianastasiou for example), and information about roadblocks and speed traps are therefore a natural progression from more traditional information.
ITWeb also recently reported that Facebook has become a source of information regarding roadblocks to subscribers. One Facebook page, Roadblocks 2009, has 316 members and was set up to warn members where roadblocks are. “Metro is out in every corner this festive. Please as soon as you come by a roadblock, speedtraps, let us know,” the group page states.
Festive season traffic deaths
The Transport Department announced on Saturday that one thousand and fifty people have been killed on South African roads during December. This figure is however disputed by the driving skills company driving.co.za, who claim that road deaths in December 2009 were higher than December 2008.
Managing director of driving.co.za, Rob Handfield-Jones, said the Department of Transport’s assertion that the December 2009 road death toll was lower than that of December 2008 is invalid and based on contradictory statistics.
Roadblock & speed trap warnings – good or bad?
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