SA speed trapsThe traffic department in South Africa uses totally unreasonable speed traps.
During my Christmas holiday I really made an effort to drive carefully, keep a safe following distance, and to stick to the speed limit.
When I received a R300 fine for doing 102km/h in a 80km/h zone, on the N2 near Humansdorp, I was disgusted.
The speed trap was in a section of road where the speed limit was reduced, just for a few kilometres.
I tried to explain to the officer that I honestly did not see the 80km/h sign.
I also explained to him that this was probably because I was concentrating on overtaking a slow vehicle, which was towing a caravan.
To no avail. I am still left with a R300 fine, that can only be contested, and paid, in Humansdorp. I live in Gauteng, and this experience definitely did not motivate me to drive more carefully.
Traffic dept out to make money
It also did not leave me feeling that the traffic department is here to "serve" me. Instead, I am left with the impression that the traffic department's only business with me is to make more money.
Why else would they setup a speed trap in a distinctly different, easy to miss, obscure little section of road, where the speed limit is temporarily lowered?
Why else did I spot four other speed traps, also on the N2, in similarly obscure locations?
Perhaps I should invest in a device that detects speed traps?
Or even better, perhaps I should use my skills to design and sell more effective speed trap detectors!
I'm sure there's a big market for these devices. I mean... how can any honest, responsible, law-abiding South African road-user, afford NOT to have one?
Francois Lombard
Johannesburg
(Letter originally appeared on www.news24.com)
Comments (0) 28.07.2007. 19:48
Articles in this Category
Featured Article
