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Launch of Average Speed Over Distance Camera Network System

Speed arrests and road deaths decrease on Province’s roads as a result of the Average Speed Over Distance camera enforcement network.

Launch of Average Speed Over Distance Camera Network System

On 20 October 2013, the Department of Transport and Public Works Minister, Robin Carlisle, launched the third phase of the Average Speed Over Distance (ASOD) camera network system, now being extended to the R27 along the West Coast.

The project was initially implemented in October 2011 on a 71.6 km stretch of road (the longest camera network of its kind in the world) between Beaufort West and Aberdeen (R61), and then in December 2012 on the 31.7 km Three Sisters – Beaufort West to Laingsburg. Since the initial two implementations in October 2011 and December 2012 (covering a total of 103.3 km of the Province’s most dangerous stretches of road), the project has seen a decrease in the number of deaths and drivers arrested for doing excessively high speeds.

How it works:

  • The ASOD system calculates the average speed of a vehicle from the time it passes the first camera until it passes the second camera.
  • The average speed is then determined by the that it has taken a vehicle to travel from point A (where the first camera is located) to point B (where the second camera is located).
  • Reaching point B in a time shorter than was is determined by the distance and the speed limit, means that the driver was speeding.

“We are very proud to add yet another weapon to our law enforcement arsenal. The third R27 phase of the project will see the ASOD coverage extended to 160.5 km of provincial road (Phase 3 totalling 57.2 km), which will no doubt continue to curb the deadly consequences of speeding on these stretches, and strengthen our continued battle to reduce the carnage on the road. The figures show that our efforts are working. Fatalities on the stretches covered by this system, have decreased from 86 in 2011, to 38 by the end of 2012, and 21 so far in 2013. We have achieved the fastest and most significant road death reduction in the world, a reduction of 28% since we started with Safely Home in 2009. However, we must and will do more to ensure that we reach our target of halving fatalities by December 2014,” said Minister Carlisle.

N1- 8 (Three Sisters to Beaufort West) ASOD Fatality Statistics for the Period: 01/12/2012- 30/09/2013

YEAR ROAD USER GROUP NUMBER OF FATALITIES
2011 Driver 23
  Passenger 55
  Pedestrian 8
2012 Driver 13
  Passenger 21
  Pedestrian 4
2013 Driver 6
  Passenger 14
  Pedestrian 1
  2011 86
  2012 38
TOTAL 2013 till end September 21

“The province has over 20 000 km of road that need effective enforcement. A major challenge has been the ill-discipline that exists amongst motorists on the road. At the end of 2012, enforcement statistics showed that vehicles driving below the speed limit of 120 km/h have risen from 61% to 74%, and conversely, those driving over the speed limit have gone down from 39% to 26%. This trend has continued and shows that motorists are in fact slowing down,” added Carlisle.

Provincial Traffic : R61 (Aberdeen Road) ASOD Enforcement Statistics for the Period: 01/12/2011-30/09/2013: Section 56 Cases

Prosecuted Speed Offences                                    2120
Drivers Arrested for Excessive Speeding             32
Highest Speed Recorded                             211 km/h (Light Motor Vehicle) (32 NAG for the period)
Public Transport Violations                           391
Drivers Arrested for Drunken Driving                         1
Drivers Arrested for False Documentation          3
Minibux Taxi Impounded 5

Provincial Traffic  (Three Sisters to Beaufort West) ASOD Enforcement Statistics for the Period: 01/12/2012- 30/09/2013: Sections 56 Cases

Prosecuted Speed Offences                                    1055
Drivers Arrested for Excessive Speeding             Light Motor Vehicle: 5
Highest Speed Recorded                             195 km/h
Drivers Arrested for Excessive Speeding              Minibus Taxi: 1
Highest Speed Recorded                 152 km/h for  a Minibus Taxi
Public Transport Violations                           436
Drivers Arrested for Drunken Driving                         1
Drivers Arrested for False Documentation          1
Minibus Taxis Impounded                             0

“I would like to thank Safely Home, our Roads team, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL), the City and all our partners for bringing this project to fruition and for all the fantastic work that they do. Our goal was never to make money from fines. Our primary concern has always been to ensure that motorists will arrive safely at their destinations, particularly when travelling long distances. We will be extending this network along the N1 and parts of the N2 in the near future. Roads are becoming increasingly dangerous, and slowing down is often the difference between life and death," added Minister Carlisle.

Pictures: Average Speed Over Distance Camera Network System R27