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Traffic Police: Keep sending photos, videos of errant road users By TAN TAM MEI There are millions of smartphones in use in Singapore, and the Traffic Police (TP) hopes to harness them to help police the road, said TP Commander Sam Tee yesterday. "(The) TP welcomes the public to send (traffic) violation photographs and videos because it's much more powerful," he said. "If we can harness and crowdsource that... it will go a long way to help us build a more disciplined culture among road users." The Assistant Commissioner of Police (AC) was speaking to reporters at the release of the annual road traffic statistics at TP headquarters in Ubi. AC Tee said the TP receives close to 500 submissions a month of videos, photos and tip-offs regarding traffic violations or errant road users. "We continue to welcome that, and we are also looking into how to make it easier for people to submit information to us... BEING WATCHED "There are a lot of cars with in-vehicle cameras, so it's easy. When you spot someone beating the red light, you can just download it and send it to us via e-feedback," he said. These submissions have played a part in deterrence and making road users more aware that they are being watched by others, he added. The TP has also deployed a new mobile speed camera (MSC) - the first one was installed on Monday at Seletar West Link. The MSC can detect up to 32 vehicles over a reach of five lanes at any time and is able to transmit images to TP headquarters automatically, eliminating the need to reload and retrieve wet-film negatives. It also has its own batteries and can be deployed in just one week, compared to existing fixed speed cameras that take six months to set up. AC Tee said: "To be fair, preceding the cameras we will have warning signs to tell people that there's a speed camera in front, please slow down. "So our idea is not to fine him, but the idea is to deter him from speeding. And if he slows down, he saves his life and saves the lives of others." If we can harness and crowdsource that... it will go a long way to help us build a more disciplined culture among road users. - Traffic Police Commander Sam Tee on public participation http://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore-news/traffic-police-keep-sending-photos-videos-errant-road-users ----- So what are you waiting for? Cash incentive like STOMP? :X