Calibrated speeding camera rocks back and forth in Mpumalanga

The residents of eMalahleni have had somewhat of a rocky relationship with the mobile speeding cameras which have been erected all over town, Witbank News reports.

Chapter 3, section 3.2.(a) of the Prosecuting Guidelines for Speed Measuring Equipment and Traffic Light Violation Monitoring Equipment states that mobile speed measuring equipment must “at all times whilst being operated be mounted on a firm and stable surface.”

This section of the Prosecuting Guidelines for Speed Measuring Equipment and Traffic Light Violation Monitoring Equipment, as amended in 2012, is important because a firm and stable surface ensures that the speed measuring equipment remains calibrated throughout its automated, unmanned use.

Concerns have been raised over the surfaces on which eMalahleni’s new portable speeding cameras are mounted.

A resident of eMalahleni captured photographs of one of the speeding cameras on the R555 on Friday, September 28, which clearly show that it is mounted on four small rocks atop an unlevel concrete “slab.”

Furthermore, concerns have been raised that the speeding cameras located near Outspan Colliery may be in violation of chapter 3, section 3.2.(a) of the Prosecuting Guidelines for Speed Measuring Equipment and Traffic Light Violation Monitoring Equipment because of the blasting conducted by the mine on a daily basis.

Motorists are understandably concerned that the tremors caused by this blasting may affect the calibration and accuracy of the unmanned, portable speeding cameras in the area.

Emalahleni Local Municipality was approached for comment, but had not responded to our enquiries at the time of publication.