iPhone app warns of school zones, traffic cameras

Stephen Withers
Thursday, 04 June 2009 13:12

IT Industry - Development

iTraffic - a new iPhone app is designed to warn drivers as they approach school zones and speed cameras. But initial user reaction is mixed.

I have no fundamental problem with school zones - it seems reasonable to expect people to drive more slowly when and where there are likely to be significant numbers of children crossing the roads.

The problem - at least in Victoria - is that except for school zones in residential streets, the reduced speed limits only apply on school days and at certain times.

So when approaching a zone, a driver needs to decide whether it is term-time or not (and if you don't have at least one schoolkid in your family, how would you know?) and, if it's anywhere near school start or finish times, to check the clock on the dash or a watch.

While illuminated signs have been installed around many schools, it seems they are far from universal.

And that's where iTraffic comes in. The $A5.99 app runs on an iPhone, and provides audible warnings as it approaches active school zones and known speed camera positions.

iTraffic was developed by Graham Dawson, the creator of the Oz Weather app for the iPhone. Dawson and five colleagues formed AppOvation to market iTraffic.

But what do early adopters think? Find out on page 2.