By Macharia Kamau
Access Kenya has launched an online traffic camera service that will give real time updates on the traffic situation on select roads in Nairobi and Mombasa.
The firm said the service, which is available on its news and information portal, is expected to play part helping ease congestion on roads by helping motorists choose less congested roads when heading out.
"These cameras will help ease congestion in major traffic areas as well as help those who use these roads identify alternate routes that will definitely save them on time and fuel or halt their travel plans altogether till the traffic eases out," said Jonathan Somen, the group managing director of Access Kenya.
"We believe that this will not only help people save time and become more productive, but coupled with our market leading access@home broadband service, we are encouraging people to work longer from home, avoid the traffic congestion and ultimately deliver more productive working hours as opposed to sitting still in traffic."
The update service consists of Internet Protocol (IP) cameras that continuously captures traffic movement and transmits the images through the Access Kenya portal, live and in real time.
more than 20 cameras
"We have more than 20 cameras in key areas around the city," Somen added.
The Group has put up 23 such cameras so far within the Nairobi’s Central Business District and its environs, and 2 cameras in Mombasa. Somen said more cameras would be installed in the coming weeks in both cities.
The traffic camera visuals can be accessed on Access Kenya’s home.co.ke portal. They can be viewed from one’s computer and it has also been developed for mobile phone access, ensuring accessibility of traffic updates even while on the move.
