Speeding is one of the leading causes of serious road accidents in South Africa, and plays a part in nearly one-third of all fatal crashes.

According to the Arrive Alive Campaign, many people do not view obeying speed limits as an important way to avoid crashes.

Speed traps and automated speed cameras aim to curb this, and are effective at reducing the speed of motorists on dangerous stretches of roads.

South African traffic authorities make use of various speed trap and camera technologies, with the cities of Cape Town and Johannesburg detailing their systems below.

Traditional speed traps

Speed trapping, where vehicles are pulled over and motorists issued with a fine, is done using various speed-measuring technologies.

Laser – A LiDAR speed gun (laser gun) is used to measure vehicle speed, which allows a police officer to measure the speed of an individual vehicle within a stream of traffic.

– A LiDAR speed gun (laser gun) is used to measure vehicle speed, which allows a police officer to measure the speed of an individual vehicle within a stream of traffic. 3D Tracking Radar – Based on similar technology to air traffic control radar, this system tracks the distance, angle, and speed of a vehicle. Multiple vehicles and lanes can be tracked simultaneously.

Speed cameras

All speed cameras use digital media to record and store violation images. Film cameras are now obsolete.

Speed cameras fall into the following categories:

Fixed Speed Camera – Speed cameras mounted at fixed positions.

– Speed cameras mounted at fixed positions. Fixed Combined Speed and Red Light Violation Camera – The camera can detect running of red lights and speeding at the same time, and you can be fined for both offences.

– The camera can detect running of red lights and speeding at the same time, and you can be fined for both offences. Mobile Speed Cameras – Vehicles are fitted with speed camera equipment, which can park on the side of the road to monitor the speed of passing traffic.

– Vehicles are fitted with speed camera equipment, which can park on the side of the road to monitor the speed of passing traffic. Semi-Fixed Speed Cameras – A camera that is installed on a road, but can be moved to a different location if needed.

– A camera that is installed on a road, but can be moved to a different location if needed. Portable Speed Cameras – Hand-held devices or set up on a tripod on the side of the road by police officers.

Hand-held devices or set up on a tripod on the side of the road by police officers. Average Speed over Distance – An ASOD system uses a camera at the start of a stretch of road and another at an “end point” along the same road. The system uses the number plate of a vehicle as its trigger, and calculates the average speed between the start and end of the measured stretch.

For speed cameras, local authorities use all available and permissible speed measuring technologies for speed enforcement in South Africa.

These speed measuring technologies include:

Laser

3D Tracking Radar

Piezo Sensor – Piezo sensors are embedded into the road’s surface. As a vehicle drives over the sensors, the time difference between sensor activation is used to calculate the vehicle’s speed.

– Piezo sensors are embedded into the road’s surface. As a vehicle drives over the sensors, the time difference between sensor activation is used to calculate the vehicle’s speed. Average Speed over Distance

The City of Cape Town stated that inductive loops across a road are no longer permissible as they do not meet the accuracy requirements for speed enforcement.

More on speed cameras

New Cape Town ASOD Speed Camera plans

Average Speed Over Distance cameras: when you can be fined, prosecuted

Cape Town speed camera system details