While stuck in traffic on the N3 on Friday morning, just outside Ladysmith, a local businessman was perplexed  as to why there was a mile-long back-up of traffic on the South-bound lane, heading to Durban.

He began phoning around to find the cause and eventually called the Ladysmith Gazette. We were able to inform him that an early morning accident scene was still be cleared by road authorities.

The businessman noticed that a crowd had gathered about ten cars back. The gathered motorists watched as the motorist  in the car launched a drone. Five minutes later, the drone returned, armed with a  video footage of road authorities clearing the road ahead.

The motorist then informed everyone about what was happening ahead and when the congestion would likely be cleared.

If you had asked us ten years ago if people would have such abilities at their fingertips, we would have laughed it off as science fiction but  now it is a reality, a scientific fact!

It is unknown what type of drone the motorist used and whether he possessed a  permit to fly it, but from July 1, 2015, it will be necessary to have a permit to fly a drone.

Rules regulating the use of remotely-piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), popularly known as drones, were signed into law by the Minister of Transport, Ms Dipuo Peters and will be officially be put into effect on 01 July 2015.

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