Drivers in South Africa are benefiting from and contributing to a user-driven, global website that shows the locations of speed traps and red-light cameras - free.
It combines Microsoft Live Maps with the ability to pinpoint speed traps anywhere on the planet. The information shared by its members is placed on a database and can be viewed by anyone.
If you click on Njection.com it will open on a satellite photograph of the area where your computer is, showing the locations of speed traps and red-light cameras as Drivers in the US can also download the information to their car's GPS
orange or red dots respectivelyDrivers in the US can also download the information to their car's GPS.
"Nobody likes to get a ticket," said Shannon Atkinson, the 33-year-old founder of Njection.com.
"Nobody likes to get hit by a red-light camera," Atkinson added, referring to the devices that photograph vehicles going through red traffic lights.
Drivers in the US, where the site is based, can also download the information to their car's GPS for a fee.
When we asked why the download service wasn't available outside the US, Atkinson said: "We haven't set up the server to allow for overseas distribution.
"Currently we have to create the files manually. We should get an automated system up and running within the next 14 days.
"We're hoping to expand the automated download service to the rest of the world as soon as we can - although I could create a file for South Africa and set it up tomorrow 'I've had lots of positive feedback from police officers'
if there was sufficient demand'I've had lots of positive feedback from police officers'."
Atkinson set up the website in mid-2007. Most of the information on the speed traps is user-generated and gathered anonymously.
Had there been complaints from law enforcement?
"I've had lots of positive feedback from police officers. The idea is to get people to slow down and, if this helps, they're happy."
Some municipalities may not be so thrilled. Atkinson said one side-effect may be a loss of revenue from speeding fines. – Reuters
E-mail Shannon Atkinson if you'd like to download SA speedtrap locations to your GPS.
It combines Microsoft Live Maps with the ability to pinpoint speed traps anywhere on the planet. The information shared by its members is placed on a database and can be viewed by anyone.
If you click on Njection.com it will open on a satellite photograph of the area where your computer is, showing the locations of speed traps and red-light cameras as Drivers in the US can also download the information to their car's GPS
orange or red dots respectivelyDrivers in the US can also download the information to their car's GPS.
"Nobody likes to get a ticket," said Shannon Atkinson, the 33-year-old founder of Njection.com.
"Nobody likes to get hit by a red-light camera," Atkinson added, referring to the devices that photograph vehicles going through red traffic lights.
Drivers in the US, where the site is based, can also download the information to their car's GPS for a fee.
When we asked why the download service wasn't available outside the US, Atkinson said: "We haven't set up the server to allow for overseas distribution.
"Currently we have to create the files manually. We should get an automated system up and running within the next 14 days.
"We're hoping to expand the automated download service to the rest of the world as soon as we can - although I could create a file for South Africa and set it up tomorrow 'I've had lots of positive feedback from police officers'
if there was sufficient demand'I've had lots of positive feedback from police officers'."
Atkinson set up the website in mid-2007. Most of the information on the speed traps is user-generated and gathered anonymously.
Had there been complaints from law enforcement?
"I've had lots of positive feedback from police officers. The idea is to get people to slow down and, if this helps, they're happy."
Some municipalities may not be so thrilled. Atkinson said one side-effect may be a loss of revenue from speeding fines. – Reuters
E-mail Shannon Atkinson if you'd like to download SA speedtrap locations to your GPS.
